Rob and Lisa Nicholson were savouring their McFlurrys during a shopping trip when they received a call that would change their lives forever.
Rob initially ignored the call from Omaze, dismissing it as a “spam call”. But after being given the news they had won £1million they described it as a ‘very happy meal indeed’.
They dashed home to scoop the tax-free life-changing sum – after buying a ticket for just £15.
Engineer Rob, 69, and NHS worker Lisa, 54, said they can now celebrate their 23-year wedding anniversary in style this week and will be able to retire early to support their three children.
The pair were in York visiting their youngest son, Max, at university when Omaze called.
They were sitting in McDonald’s, about to tuck into a McFlurry and coffees, when the phone rang.
Rob said: “We were enjoying a well-earned McFlurry after attempting a bit of dreaded Christmas shopping. I didn’t answer the first couple of calls because we thought it was probably a spam caller trying to flog us something.
“When I finally picked up and realised it was Omaze, I looked at my wife and said ‘I think we need to ditch the McFlurrys and get home now!’ So we left our McFlurrys in a hurry and headed straight back to the house to meet the Omaze team.
“After the dust had settled and we knew we’d become millionaires, we were both in shock. I wasn’t sure how to celebrate so suggested having a nice cup of tea, but my wife said opening a bottle of wine would be far more appropriate.”
Rob, a design engineer who has worked in the industry for 40 years, lives in West Yorkshire with Lisa, who works for the NHS as a social care administrator. The pair, who will mark their 23rd wedding anniversary this week, have three children: Charlotte, 31, Lewis, 30, and Max, 21.
He went on: “When I told my boss he said ‘why are you still here?’ as he assumed I’d retire straight away.
“But I love my job and I love the people I work with, so I’ll cut down my days for a while and then finally retire and pass the baton on. I’ve mainly carried on working so we can pay our son’s university fees, thanks to the win we can now pay them all off in one go.”
Rob said the Omaze Monthly Millionaire Draw triumph couldn’t have arrived at a more perfect moment.
He added: “This is such a life-changing sum of money, it will really transform things for the whole family.
“Both our boys are autistic, so having this extra money will make a big difference. We’ll be able to help all three of the kids, it means the world to us that we’ll be able to give our children such a fantastic head start in life.”
He continued: “My wife has already said it’s time for us to have some time together, enjoy life and treat ourselves. I know she’s had her eye on a special bag, but now we can go back to get it. I imagine the Christmas lists will be pretty long this year! Although we won’t waste it all, my wife still bought a second class stamp yesterday.”
