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Video: Meet Yorkshire's 229 Lotto millionaires
The National Lottery celebrated its 15th anniversary with an exclusive Leeds party for 229 millionaires it has created in Yorkshire.
Some of the region's biggest jackpot winners converged on Leeds to raise a glass to the life-changing draw which has paid out 1,085,964,265 in major prizes in the area.
Roger and Lara Griffiths, from Leeds, were among around 60 special guests at the Royal Armouries.
When the Wetherby couple scooped 1.8m in 2005 they splashed out on the luxuries. Former IT worker Roger, 38, also indulged his dreams of becoming a rock star, reforming his band FMB and releasing a record.
Former drama teacher Lara, 39, said the best gift their win had brought them was the chance to spend more time with daughters Ruby, five and Kitty, two. "Most people don't get to see that."
The duo set up several new businesses including a recruitment company and The Spa Lounge, in Boston Spa.
Ron Johnston was syndicate leader of a group of workers from M&S Toiletries, Normanton, who shared a 3.6m win last year. Fork-lift truck driver Mr Johnston, of Kippax, picked up 185,000 along with 19 other syndicate members.
And although it wasn't enough to give up work he said: "It's fantastic, I paid my debts off, paid my mortgage and then all your wage is your own."
Janette and Stephen Wright of Cleckheaton landed 1.6m in 2007. Janette, 43, left her job at New Hall Prison, Wakefield, and the couple now spend their days buying and renovating properties.
Susan and Michael Crossland, of Mirfield, picked up 1.25m last summer and although the mum-of-four has treated herself to a dress designed by Victoria Beckham, the couple still shop at Primark, Asda and Netto.
But the parents of four plan to use the cash wisely and to benefit their whole family.
All the winners that spoke to the YEP said they still continued to play the Lottery.
A Lottery spokesman said: "Yorkshire has always been an exceptionally lucky area to live in, with the Bradford and Hull postcode areas ranking in the top 10 luckiest."
The region boasts 10 per cent of the Lottery millionaires created across the UK.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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