Darren McGuire, 48, from Bolton, Lancashire, has revealed how his late father's numbers helped him win the £1m Lotto jackpot, almost 14 years after he first started playing them.
McGuire, a former gas engineer, chose to use his dad Joseph's birthday, 22-3-48, and the date of his death, 21-9-11, as his lottery numbers to remember him. Joseph died from cancer at the age of 63.
Almost 14 years of playing
McGuire said he was not superstitious before his father died, but he kept writing the numbers down when he registered the death. He used them every Wednesday and Saturday for 13 years, experiencing small wins with three numbers and the odd lucky dip before hitting the jackpot last year.
He told The Mirror: "I was not superstitious before he died. I kept writing the numbers down when I registered his death and decided that after eight years of bad luck, we might have some good luck."
Life after the win
After his win, McGuire gave up his job, which he had held for more than 30 years, often working seven days a week. He married his long-term sweetheart Laura, 41, in May, and the couple went on a European cruise with their two school-age daughters, visiting Rome and Barcelona.
McGuire, a Manchester United fan, said: "I now feel it was my dad looking out for us. When he was really ill we were by his side for the last week of his life and helped mum as much as we could. I reassured him that I would never leave mum on her own."
Remembering his father
He described his father as having a good sense of humour, recalling: "He said to me, 'Don't come looking for me, I won't be coming back,' which really made me laugh. We went to the grave with the cheque to thank him."
McGuire said he bought a five-year-old Volvo and has enjoyed some nice holidays, but has not paid off his 10-year mortgage deal because it would cost too much. He said his wife jokes that when he dies, she will put the money in the coffin, but he wants the money to work for his wife and children so they never have to struggle.
The lottery chiefs Allwyn revealed other winners who believed they had help from the 'other side', including Tina Freeman from Tamworth, who won £1.3m playing her late dad's numbers in 2008, and Mark Francis of Swansea, who scooped £1m in 2022 after asking his late dad for luck. Three years ago, Deana Sampson from Sheffield won £5.4m after her late brother Glyn told her she would win in a dream.
