A County Durham Army veteran says he will stick with his plasterer's van and two-bed terrace despite winning a house, two cars, and £100,000 in cash. Newcastle fan Paul Chollerton, who lives near Durham, says he has no big plans to change his life despite the massive win.
Life-Changing Prize
The 54-year-old has won an £800,000 house in Winchester, a Porsche Cayenne GTS, a Volkswagen Golf GTI, and £100,000 in cash through a BOTB competition. Paul said he was "lost for words" when he found out about the win, saying: "I had a feeling and always hoped something good might be around the corner for me, but I never in a million years dreamed it would be this good."
Plans for the Winnings
He is planning on splashing the cash on a cruise with his 17-year-old son, Elliott, and he hopes it will help him to look after his mum, who has dementia. The plasterer said he had always enjoyed work but never had much extra income, and was now coming to terms with what the win would mean.
After he had woken Elliott up to give him the news, he then visited Paul's mum in her care home. He said: "She is in a care home, but she is still aware of some things and when I told her she started crying and this huge smile erupted. She raised me and my brother alone and was on benefits, so didn’t have much when it came to material things, but she filled our house with love and would have given her last penny to anyone in need, so I am glad this win will help me to make sure she is looked after and treated to something special too."
Keeping His Van
Paul, who served in the arms alongside his brother in the 1980s and 1990s in Northern Ireland, said he was happy with his plasterer's van and his home of 43 years; so he is inclined to take an alternative cash prize. He said: "I might take some time to get used to all this but the best thing I did was to just celebrate with a really lovely cup of tea."
Christian Williams, BOTB presenter, said: "Paul is just a very humble guy but with lots of dreams, like all of us, and so glad we have been able to hand over this prize that will be genuinely life-changing in ways that make a difference to him. And that seems all about making life better for the people he loves."
