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Euromillions winner of £107.9m jackpot named Euromillions winner of £107.9m jackpot named
(4 months later)
The lucky winner of the £107.9m Euromillions jackpot has been named as Neil Trotter, a car mechanic and motor racing enthusiast from south London.The lucky winner of the £107.9m Euromillions jackpot has been named as Neil Trotter, a car mechanic and motor racing enthusiast from south London.
Trotter was revealed as the National Lottery's fourth-biggest winner at a press conference on Tuesday.Trotter was revealed as the National Lottery's fourth-biggest winner at a press conference on Tuesday.
The 41-year-old, who runs a repair garage called Chameleon Coachworks, said he planned to trade in his oil-stained Ford Focus for a fleet of supercars after becoming a multimillionaire overnight.The 41-year-old, who runs a repair garage called Chameleon Coachworks, said he planned to trade in his oil-stained Ford Focus for a fleet of supercars after becoming a multimillionaire overnight.
"I've always thought I'd win big and I'd had a good feeling all week," Trotter said. "On Friday evening we were sitting at home when I checked the time and thought the draw must have taken place by now."I've always thought I'd win big and I'd had a good feeling all week," Trotter said. "On Friday evening we were sitting at home when I checked the time and thought the draw must have taken place by now.
"I took out my ticket to check the winning numbers and amazingly one by one they matched. I told Nicky, my partner, 'I've done it, I've won the lottery'. But she told me to shut up and to stop being an idiot.""I took out my ticket to check the winning numbers and amazingly one by one they matched. I told Nicky, my partner, 'I've done it, I've won the lottery'. But she told me to shut up and to stop being an idiot."
Trotter said he turned white as a sheet when he checked his ticket at around 10.30pm on Friday and that Nicky Ottaway, his partner of eight years, started screaming after double-checking the numbers.Trotter said he turned white as a sheet when he checked his ticket at around 10.30pm on Friday and that Nicky Ottaway, his partner of eight years, started screaming after double-checking the numbers.
"Next we called my dad, but he said I was being an idiot too and that I should stop drinking. But I hadn't had a drop. Even when we jumped in the car and drove round, it took him a while to realise we were serious. My dad's not often lost for words but he was on Friday night," he said."Next we called my dad, but he said I was being an idiot too and that I should stop drinking. But I hadn't had a drop. Even when we jumped in the car and drove round, it took him a while to realise we were serious. My dad's not often lost for words but he was on Friday night," he said.
Trotter said he expected to get some stick over his surname, which he shares with fictional TV wheeler dealer brothers Del Boy and Rodney: "Me and my dad thought we'd heard all the Only Fools and Horses jokes, but I can see this is going to run and run. Still, being Trotters we were always going to be millionaires one day."Trotter said he expected to get some stick over his surname, which he shares with fictional TV wheeler dealer brothers Del Boy and Rodney: "Me and my dad thought we'd heard all the Only Fools and Horses jokes, but I can see this is going to run and run. Still, being Trotters we were always going to be millionaires one day."
The motor racing fanatic came sixth in last summer's BMW Compact Cup which he entered as a newcomer.The motor racing fanatic came sixth in last summer's BMW Compact Cup which he entered as a newcomer.
Until last week he had been building his own racer – but his newfound fortune meant he could hang up his overalls and now buy a top-of-the-range supercar.Until last week he had been building his own racer – but his newfound fortune meant he could hang up his overalls and now buy a top-of-the-range supercar.
"I worked my last shift on Friday repairing and spraying other people's cars," he said. "I have a few phone calls to make to let people down, but this is my time now. I'm taking time off and going to really enjoy following the British touring car championships."I worked my last shift on Friday repairing and spraying other people's cars," he said. "I have a few phone calls to make to let people down, but this is my time now. I'm taking time off and going to really enjoy following the British touring car championships.
"I drive a Ford Focus at the moment. It's always been reliable but the steering wheel is black from oil off my hands and it's time for an upgrade."I drive a Ford Focus at the moment. It's always been reliable but the steering wheel is black from oil off my hands and it's time for an upgrade.
"There are a lot of stunning cars out there – I'm going to need a lot of garage space at the new house. I would love to own a hypercar – that would be amazing, something like the McLaren – although I'm not sure how easy they are to get hold of.""There are a lot of stunning cars out there – I'm going to need a lot of garage space at the new house. I would love to own a hypercar – that would be amazing, something like the McLaren – although I'm not sure how easy they are to get hold of."
Trotter and Ottoway plan to spend their winnings on a new home, one big enough to house a fleet of expensive vehicles, probably, and a stable for some horses, and a holiday abroad – once Trotter has renewed his passport.Trotter and Ottoway plan to spend their winnings on a new home, one big enough to house a fleet of expensive vehicles, probably, and a stable for some horses, and a holiday abroad – once Trotter has renewed his passport.
Trotter was described by his friend, the BMW Compact Cup event manager Daniel Collett, as "one of life's nice people", who was mad about anything with an engine.Trotter was described by his friend, the BMW Compact Cup event manager Daniel Collett, as "one of life's nice people", who was mad about anything with an engine.
"It genuinely couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. He turned up at the start of last year's race with the surname Trotter and this thick London accent – it sticks out immediately – and he shone through as a character in the pit lane," he said."It genuinely couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. He turned up at the start of last year's race with the surname Trotter and this thick London accent – it sticks out immediately – and he shone through as a character in the pit lane," he said.
"The guy's probably forgotten more about cars than I'll ever know. He's got petrol running through his veins and if it's got an engine, he knows about it.""The guy's probably forgotten more about cars than I'll ever know. He's got petrol running through his veins and if it's got an engine, he knows about it."
Collett said he had been bursting at the seams to keep the news quiet since Trotter messaged him over the weekend, saying: "Really need to talk to you – it's urgent!"Collett said he had been bursting at the seams to keep the news quiet since Trotter messaged him over the weekend, saying: "Really need to talk to you – it's urgent!"
"When I spoke to him on the phone he was bouncing off the ceiling. He's been talking about getting a McLaren, but he's got enough money to buy the entire grid several times over.""When I spoke to him on the phone he was bouncing off the ceiling. He's been talking about getting a McLaren, but he's got enough money to buy the entire grid several times over."
Based on the Sunday Times Rich List for 2013, Trotter becomes the 745th richest person in the UK, with a fortune that would narrowly outrank that of pop stars George Michael and Robbie Williams, who have an estimated wealth of £105m each.Based on the Sunday Times Rich List for 2013, Trotter becomes the 745th richest person in the UK, with a fortune that would narrowly outrank that of pop stars George Michael and Robbie Williams, who have an estimated wealth of £105m each.
Trotter's single lucky dip ticket was bought from a Londis on Wallington Corner in Wallington, south London, a short drive from his semi-detached home in Coulsdon.Trotter's single lucky dip ticket was bought from a Londis on Wallington Corner in Wallington, south London, a short drive from his semi-detached home in Coulsdon.
A worker at the shop told the Guardian he could not recall selling the winning ticket – and that he only found out on Tuesday morning in a phone call from Camelot.A worker at the shop told the Guardian he could not recall selling the winning ticket – and that he only found out on Tuesday morning in a phone call from Camelot.
"Obviously I'm surprised – it's not a small amount. Camelot called us and said somebody won a lottery ticket sold by you," he said, before adding: "Can you call at another time? I'm busy.""Obviously I'm surprised – it's not a small amount. Camelot called us and said somebody won a lottery ticket sold by you," he said, before adding: "Can you call at another time? I'm busy."
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