National Lottery winner who ignored emails for months opens up on how life has changed
A Wiltshire woman who won £1million on the National Lottery has revealed how she ignored emails about her win for more than two months.
Ruth Doyle scooped the life-changing prize in June 2014 while working abroad but did not discover her good fortune until two months later in August.
The oversight began when Doyle spotted a £25 deposit from the lottery in her bank account, which she dismissed as a “nice addition” without investigating further.
Only when she received a phone call months later that her fortune came to light.
“It was a normal Friday afternoon and everything changed from then,” Ruth told the BBC.
Initially believing the call might be fraudulent, she was sceptical when a “lovely lady” from the National Lottery announced the prize money.
“We’d probably be struggling if it wasn’t for our win,” she reflected, describing how their lives became “far less stressful” after claiming the prize money
The win came as part of the National Lottery’s 30-year history, which has raised £50billion for good causes alongside creating numerous millionaires.
After careful contemplation, Doyle and her husband Peter took their time deciding how to use their windfall.
Once the couple paid off their mortgage, they purchased a Shaun the Sheep statue that had previously been displayed at Paddington station to support Bristol Children’s Hospital – which now has taken up residence in their living room.
Another cause close to their hearts was animal welfare, particularly dogs in Romania, so Doyle used some of her winnings to visit the country. During her visit, she provided aid to animal shelters and helped to arrange for dogs to be fostered in new homes.
Although the couple initially continued working, they increasingly focused on creating more free time for themselves.
When Ruth later faced redundancy, the lottery win meant she did not have to search for a new job.
Her husband Peter was also able to take early retirement, which marked a significant change in their lifestyle.
For those lucky enough to win the lottery, Ruth has recommended taking time to process the news.
“Depending on your age and personality it all becomes clear,” she said.
Now, in their 60s, the couple has reflected on how the win has transformed their daily lives, saying that the most significant change has been what Ruth describes as “the gift of time.”
“It has all meant more time together, with friends, family and on their interests,” she added.