LUCKY Felixstowe grandmother Rose Bullock has 96,000 reasons for wearing a huge smile today – after hitting the jackpot at the town's bingo hall.Champagne corks popped as the 57-year-old was announced as the national winner – but teetotal Mrs Bullock was feeling bubbly enough without the drink.
LUCKY Felixstowe grandmother Rose Bullock has 96,000 reasons for wearing a huge smile today – after hitting the jackpot at the town's bingo hall.
Champagne corks popped as the 57-year-old was announced as the national winner – but teetotal Mrs Bullock was feeling bubbly enough without the drink.
"I was off on another planet – I just could not believe it," said Mrs Bullock today.
"I have had wins before, probably the most was £200, but this was just unbelievable. I am still in shock really."
She won the top prize of more than £96,000 while playing at the Palace Club in Crescent Road, Felixstowe.
And she reckoned she had made good interest – after spending more than £40,000 playing her favourite game over the past 30 years.
"I have never smiled so much in my life as I have in the last few days," said Mrs Bullock, who describes herself as "a full-time granny".
"It has always been a joke to my family when I said I would win the national one day. You are in cuckoo land they said.
"But I told them someone has to win it. Why shouldn't it be me?
"They were all gobsmacked when I did. My son worked out that I had probably spent £40,000 over the years. I have made good interest then, I replied!"
She won the national bingo game prize of £95,000 plus a regional prize of £1,230 after completing a full house in 41 numbers, the lowest anywhere.
Mrs Bullock, who lives with her husband Brian, a retired gas engineer, and has four children and seven grandchildren, said the money would make a world of difference as living on a pension was not easy.
"People keep saying to me, you can have a cruise or buy a holiday villa in Spain – they have got it all spent for me," she said.
"But it still hasn't sunk in yet. I just think if I want something I can buy it now. I need a new kitchen and my husband is hinting at a new car. I have a big family and they all have little ideas."
fastfacts:
n The national bingo game is the second largest computer-controlled game in the UK – the National Lottery is the biggest.
n Around 500 clubs link together nationwide to play the game 364 days a year.
n More than £1m prize money is up for grabs each week.
n Total prize money won since the game started in 1986 stands at £741 million.
n Bingo got its present name in 1930 when American Edwin Lowe patented it, but it has been played since Roman times and was known as lotto in the 1700s.
n Three million people in the UK regularly play bingo – eight per cent of the population, most of them women.
n Players spend an average of £15 to 320 on an evening, including tickets, food and drink, and tax.
n Even celebrities love bingo – Denise Van Outen, Catherine Zeta Jones and Robbie Williams love to play.
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