Granddad who won £1million on Lottery scratchcard will fulfil lifelong dream

A granddad who scooped a £1 million National Lottery jackpot after using loose change in his pocket to buy a scratchcard will fulfil a lifelong dream with his winnings.

Lucky Kevin Francis, 61, spontaneously treated himself to two £5 scratchcards – a rare purchase for him – after rummaging through his pockets to find exactly £10 in £1 coins.

Today he has vowed to fulfil a lifelong dream and learn how to sail.

He will also make renovations to his three-bed house and upgrade his Hyundai i35 with the cash.

Maintenance manager Mr Francis had reluctantly popped to the shop after a long day at work at the request of his partner of 17 years, Brenda, 75.

Uncharacteristically, he decided to pick up two 'Merry Millions' scratchcards for himself.

Mr Francis – who has only bought 20 scratchcards in his lifetime and has never won a penny – said he 'still doesn't know' what tempted him to make the random purchase.

Winning nothing on his first scratchcard, Mr Francis thought he was down on his luck but was left in total disbelief after the winning symbols appeared.

The shocked grandfather-of-one then hid the scratchcard away and enjoyed a good night's sleep before getting his grand prize confirmed the following day on his way to work and 'screamed' in delight after hearing the news.

The father-of-two, from Fareham, near Portsmouth, Hants, is yet to spend his 'life-changing' winnings but is looking forward to an extra special Christmas with his family this year.

Despite his new-found millionaire status, humble Mr Francis has vowed to continue working and has no plans to retire from his 16-year maintenance manager role in Portsmouth.

However, he did confess he will still try and experience living a millionaire's lifestyle.

Mr Francis said: "There's one thing this win will enable me to do and that's learn to sail. I've lived by the sea all my life and always wanted to but either never had the time or the money to start.

"While I might not be buying sports cars or taking exotic holidays any time soon, perhaps sailing a yacht one day in the future will be my nod to being a lottery millionaire."

He added: "I still need time to take it all in because you have all these things going through your head.

"It's such a surreal thing. One minute you are feeling on a high and then the next thing you are feeling as if it is not real.

"It's very emotional. It's life changing, it's something you don't expect.

"It just goes to show, anybody can do it. Everyone has their dreams, it's there if you want to have a go."

The scratchcard was purchased at Fairfield Avenue PO and Stores in Fareham, Hants.

Mr Francis added: "Brenda is not very well so for her, the odd scratchcard is something of a treat to pass the time.

"I'd just got back from work and she asked if I'd go and buy her a couple – I have to admit I wasn't keen to go out again but I'm very pleased that I did.

"I rarely buy them myself so I still don't know what made me put my hand in my pocket to find exactly £10 in £1 coins, and then opt for two £5 scratchcards.

"I can't help thinking it's a catalogue of events which have combined to create an amazing result.

"I played the first and won nothing, and thought that was about my usual luck, and I'd almost finished when on the last game, I revealed three aeroplane symbols and my luck changed instantly.

"When I revealed the '1' and the 'M', it just didn't register. I kept turning the scratchcard over to look on the back to be sure that it did mean £1 million.

"I must have been in total shock because I left the scratchcard on the kitchen worktop and didn't tell Brenda for an hour or so.

"When I did eventually tell her that I thought I'd won, she thought I was winding her up and then couldn't believe how calm I was about it all, but I guess that's my nature.

"The minute that machine pinged was the moment I knew it was real and for a little while I wasn't as calm."

According to the Portsmouth News , the PO postcode is one of the luckiest in the country for making millionaires.

Last month a lucky UK ticket holder became Britain's largest ever EuroMillions winner as they scooped £170 million.

The 'must win' jackpot came on October 8 as the draw hit its maximum payout for only the fourth time in history, having rolled over 22 times. The player matched all five main numbers in the draw.

The Camelot chief said at the time his team would look to "guide" the winner as they come to terms with winning the life-changing sum of money.

Colin and Christine Weir were the previous biggest winners of the EuroMillions draw.

They scooped the massive £161million jackpot back in 2001, but announced their separation earlier this year and have now divorced.

Chrstine and Colin, from Largs in North Ayrshire, had been "living apart for some time" before they made it official.

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