A couple who won £1million on the National Lottery said the money has “changed their life” after they used their winnings to move abroad and get unusual jobs.
Bill, 64, and Cath Mullarkey, 63, returned from a holiday in St Lucia when they discovered that they had won the jackpot, a moment they described as “surreal”.
After the news had sunk in, the pair decided to leave Coventry and move to the Caribbean Island, where they set up their own restaurant.
Bill said: “We feel so blessed. It has changed our life and the lives of other people that we’ve helped as well.”
The couple, who worked in corporate catering, played the National Lottery “many, many times” and always dreamed of owning a restaurant on St Lucia – the place where they first met and holidayed frequently.
Returning from a trip in 2017, they were shocked to receive a message telling them that they had won £1million in the National Lottery.
“I thought it must be something like, ‘this could be you if you play tonight’, but no, the lady said, ‘Congratulations, you’re the proud winner of the EuroMillions, £1million’ and that was it,” Bill said.
“It was life-changing, but it took time to sink in. Even for a day or two, it was surreal. I’m thinking maybe we’ll get a call back saying it’s a mistake, but no.
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The pair won the £1million prize in 2017
PA
“When you see it’s all signed, sealed, delivered and then that’s reality when you see your bank account with zeros, wow.”
“We always thought of having our own place and ideally opening our own little restaurant. We never thought it would happen but we dreamed and then that was the priority, that and help family members.
“We had got to that age in life where we thought it’d never be possible or we would be fortunate enough to think, ‘where do we really want to settle down’, and for me, it was a no-brainer.”
Before their life-changing win, the Mullarkeys had purchased a plot of land a few minutes from the beach.
Now, £1million richer, they knew it was their time to make their dreams a reality.
They set to work building their house with mountain views, a swimming pool and a restaurant on the ground floor called Brigands Hideaway, which serves St Lucian food and opened last November.
They now own a restaurant in St Lucia
PA
“It’s doing quite well, and it’s nice working for ourselves, Cath is very good with the local food, and it’s going down well with both locals and tourists,” Bill said.
“There is so much fresh produce here and we get on well with the local suppliers and farmers, and Cath’s brothers are fishermen so we get fresh fish.”
Whilst the couple said they do miss “beautiful” Coventry, they said that their lives have been changed for the better by winning the jackpot.
“We were happy before, but we are even happier now, knowing that we have this. I’m grateful every day of my life and so is Cath, for the change that it’s managed to bring us.
“What we’re doing now is for ourselves and living our dream, doing our thing, which we dreamt of, but never thought would be possible, so it has changed our life for the better.”
