£45m Lottery winner's estranged mother 'ecstatic' for son
Cassey Carrington and Matt Topham matched five numbers and two Lucky Stars in the draw. Photo: PA
More photos:
MATT Topham, who won £45 million on the lottery with his fiancée Cassey Carrington, has not spoken to his mother for six years, it has emerged.
While the lucky couple celebrated their massive jackpot win, Mr Topham's mother Julie Gamble fought back tears as she said she hoped the windfall would not change his life for the worse.
Asked if she would be seeing her son, a painter and decorator, Mrs Gamble, 49, told the Daily Mail: "That’s his choice at the end of the day, he knows where I am."
It was reported that the 22-year-old had not been in touch since his parents separated six years ago. Mr Topham is now planning a dream wedding to Miss Carrington.
"‘I hope they are as happy together after the win as they were before it. I hope it changes their lives for the better," Mrs Gamble added.
"It’s a staggering amount. From what I can gather they are very much in love, I know Cassey is Matt’s rock."
Mr Topham and Miss Carrington, also 22, scooped the jackpot on Tuesday’s EuroMillions draw after “feeling lucky” because she had won a bonus at Iceland, the supermarket where she works as a supervisor.
They said the win, the seventh largest in the UK, had yet to sink in. However, the couple from Nottingham, who plan to marry in September, have already made a list of things to buy and people to help.
Miss Carrington wants to buy an Aston Martin and design her own home while Mr Topham plans to take flying lessons.
Both want to buy their parents new homes or pay off their mortgages but Mr Topham made no reference to his mother during the pair's press conference yesterday.
Miss Carrington described how she decided to splash out on tickets after staff at her store won a £10,000 prize to share.
“I just felt fairly lucky that day so from then on I just thought 'I feel a bit of luck’. Having played (the lottery) not very often – I’d won £10 twice – I thought, 'Seeing as I’m feeling a little bit lucky £10 will help us,’ so I decided to give it a go.”
She set up an online account last Friday with £5 but did not win so spent £3 on Saturday’s Lotto and a line for Tuesday’s EuroMillions draw, which turned out to be the winner.
The day of the couple’s jackpot win started out with bad luck, however, when their washing machine and computer broke within minutes of each other. Their clothes were still in the broken washer, they said.
The young couple, who have been together for three years, have been saving for their wedding since June.
Mr Topham said: “I have often painted these huge houses and wondered what it would be like to live in one, now I can find out,” he said
“My dad’s always been in work. He’s still got a mortgage now and he’s 67 and it’d be so nice to get him out of work and pay off his mortgage, and let him relax.”
Miss Carrington said she would like to buy her parents a house because they have always rented.
“I told them last night I was going to buy them a house and my dad just went completely silent — didn’t even dream that I’d spend any money on them – but that was one of my first things. Just so that they’ve got that easier life.”
The couple’s wedding will now be a more lavish affair than originally planned, they said, but the bride-to-be said she would not change her engagement ring or her dress because they are so close to her heart.
Mr Topham’s father, Brian, said: “We’re really happy for them. It couldn’t have happened to nicer people, they’re a lovely couple.
“He rang yesterday morning to tell me. I believed him straight away because we don’t tell lies in this house.
“The night before his washer and computer had broken down.
“He had come round here to get a fuse, he couldn’t believe his bad luck because they’re trying to save for their wedding in September.”
