Rob and Lisa Nicholson were enjoying a McFlurry on a shopping trip to the city when they got a call telling them to come home and claim the staggering prize.
The pair were visiting their youngest son, Max, who is at university here, when the phone rang.
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They said they were about to tuck into a McFlurry and coffees and Rob said he almost didn’t answer as he thought it was a “spam call.”
But after being given the news by they had won £1million in the Omaze Monthly Millionaire Draw they described it as a “very happy meal indeed”.
Rob and Lisa Nicholson found out they had won a million pounds – while tucking into McFlurrys in York. Picture: SWNS (Image: Courtesy of Omaze / SWNS)
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.
Rob said: “We had attempted 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!
“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.
“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.”
Rob and Lisa Nicholson found out they had won a million pounds – while tucking into McFlurrys in York. Picture: SWNS (Image: Courtesy of Omaze / SWNS)
Rob also said how life has been challenging in recent times, saying it felt like it had been “one thing after another” for the couple over the past few years.
He said: “My wife lost her mum to leukaemia a few years ago, and her dad now lives with us.
“Our daughter Charlotte has moved back home recently too.
“So this win really does take a huge amount of pressure off all of us, a cloud has been lifted and we’ve now got permanent smiles on our faces.”
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 couple, who will celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary this week, have three children: Charlotte, 31, Lewis, 30, and Max, 21.
Rob said he never considered himself a lucky man, joking: “I once won £3 in a raffle, that cost me £3, but I’ve more than broken even this time.
“Seeing all those zeros land in my account is something I’ll never forget.”
He added: “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.”