BRITAINS’s oldest lottery winner Dennis Banfield made a touching gesture before passing away.
The beloved ex-RAF serviceman and his wife Shirley saw their lives changed forever after bagging a huge prize in 2018.
Dennis shared a gesture of generosity before his passing
He gave a portion of the cash to his two daughters
The humble man, who lived in a humble three-bedroom home in Winterbourne, Bristol, was left in tears when he accepted a cheque for a jaw-dropping £18,139,352.
His heartbroken family have now remembered the legacy of love and giving he left behind.
They gave lots of money to charity. The money didn’t change them at all really
Staff member
Shirley told The Sun: “He was so well liked but he’s gone now.
“He said when he was going, ‘I’ve had a good life, I’ve done a lot and I’ve seen a lot and I’m ready to go now’.
His final years were marked by an extraordinary act of love as he and his wife shared their fortune with their beloved daughters.
The couple, who have been together for more than 60 years, chose to split the money with their two daughters Karen, 57, and Tina, 60.
Tina said at the time: “It’s not every day your parents call you at 8am to tell you they have won the lottery.
”So when they did make that call on Sunday, my first thought was it must be a mistake and I immediately headed over the check.
”Seeing those six numbers first on their TV screen and then also matching on the National Lottery site was a magical moment.”
At the time of the win, the loving dad added: “All that has ever mattered to Shirley and I is that the girls are okay.
“We joke that it’s just a matter of time and we are playing the lottery for them, so that they are financially secure forever.
“To know they are is a wonderful feeling.”
DOWN TO EARTH
They also donated a significant portion of the winnings to various charities.
After discovering they had bagged the whopping prize, Shirley was so shocked her daughter Tina thought she had a mishap.
Dennis said: “Shirley went berserk, she went flying up in the air. Tina thought her mum had fallen over, and said: ‘Has mum had a fall?’
“I had the ticket in my hand for all of five minutes and didn’t see it again all day.”
The winning numbers 5, 8, 9, 10, 38 and 53 were drawn from a Lucky Dip at their local newsagent.
Despite becoming millionaires overnight, Dennis and Shirley celebrated their windfall with a modest dinner at a local carvery.
The couple kept their modest lifestyle and stayed grounded despite their newfound wealth.
Staff at their local butcher, Buxton’s Butchers, said Shirley still shops there and her favourite saying is “How much?” when told of the price for her meat.
They said: “He used to come in here all the time. He was fantastic.
“They gave lots of money to charity. The money didn’t change them at all really.”
It comes as a man discovered he won more than £34,000 while scrolling on Facebook.
Neil Thomson, 50, won the People’s Postcode Lottery yesterday but only realised while scrolling the social media site.
The couple kept a low-key lifestyle despite becoming millionaires
An emotional Dennis wiped away tears of joy when he won the jackpot
UK’s biggest lottery winners
Anonymous winner – £195,707,000
A UK ticket-holder scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195 million on July 19 2022 – the biggest National Lottery win of all time.
The holder, who remains anonymous to this day, amassed the fortune with just one lucky ticket.
Joe and Jess Thwaite – £184,262,899.10
Britain’s previous EuroMillions record holders were Joe and Jess Thwaite.
The couple won a record-breaking £184million jackpot in May 2022 and shared hopes of a Hawaiian holiday and a new horse box for their children’s ponies.
Joe bought his winning ticket online on May 10, 2022, and the following morning received an email with good news.
As he learnt of the huge win, he was in disbelief and initially kept it for himself as he did not want to disturb his wife, who was sleeping.
Joe, a communications sales engineer, and Jess, who runs a hairdressing salon with her sister, have been married for 11 years and have two children.
Colin and Chris Weir, £161,653,000
Colin and Christine Weir landed the colossal prize money in 2011 and were Europe’s second-biggest winners until someone in Italy won a jackpot worth £193m in 2019.
They splashed the cash at an astounding rate of £100,000 a week before tragedy struck.
But at the time of Colin’s death in December 2019, his share of the prize money had dwindled by around £40m.
He spent millions living a life of luxury, forking out for sports cars, property and the football club he supported.
Colin and Christine divorced shortly before his death after being married for 38 years.
He left money for their children Carly and Jamie.
Adrian and Gillian Brayford – £148,600,000
Adrian and Gillian won 190 million euros in a EuroMillions draw in August 2012, which came to just over £148 million.
But Adrian split from Gillian the following year because of the stress of the win.
The couple bought a Grade II listed estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with a cinema and billiards room, but it was sold in 2021.
After divorcing in 2013, he failed to woo ex-sausage factory worker Marta Jarosz — but fell for stable girl Sam Burbidge.
She left him in 2017, taking 30 prize horses Adrian bought.
It might have worked out in the end for Adrian though as the former postman was seen smiling with ambulance worker Tracey Biles last year.
Frances and Patrick Connolly – £114,969,775
Former social worker and teacher Frances set up two charitable foundations after she and her husband hit the jackpot.
They scooped almost £115 million on New Year’s Day 2019.
She estimates that she has already given away £60 million to charitable causes, as well as friends and family.
Richard and Debbie Nuttall – £61,000,000
The couple from Colne, Lancashire, took home £61 million on January 30 2024.
Both 54, they were enjoying a holiday in Fuerteventura, celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.
But they then discovered the big EuroMillions win.
Richard revealed they originally thought they had won £2.60, but then received another email telling the pair to check their account.
Other eye-watering anonymous winners:
2019 – £123million
Another anonymous winner scooped up a prize of £123,458,008 in the June Superdraw rollover.
2021 – £122million
Following nine rollovers, one ticketholder bagged the £122,550,350 jackpot last April.
The successful participant chose to remain anonymous.
2018 – £121million
Another anonymous winner found their fortune during the Superdraw jackpot rollover in April 2018, securing £121,328,187.