Grandfather wins £20,000 on lottery weeks after wife dies

John Biddlecombe celebrating at home.

An 81-year-old grandfather has scooped £20,000 on the lottery, just four weeks after his wife died, which he believes is down to her.

John Biddlecombe with his winning ticket.

John Biddlecombe has played the same numbers for twenty years.

His wife, Alice, died on July 2, and just four weeks later, Mr Biddlecombe from Ashbourne, Derbyshire, matched all of his eight numbers giving him the windfall to take home.

Mr Biddlecombe, has two children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He believes that his late wife of sixty years is to thank for his good luck.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, the octogenarian said: “It’s extraordinary and far too unusual to be just a coincidence.

“I think she’s looking down saying ‘I’ve made this happen now you enjoy yourself.’”

After a holiday to Malta as well as some presents for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, Mr Biddlecombe plans to spend the money on some solar panels that his wife did not allow him to have while she was alive.

“Alice said no when I wanted to do it – she said it wasn’t worth it at our age.

“But you get such a good return I think it’ll be a good investment.”

The father-of-two said that he felt lucky on the day of the draw which was also his birthday.

“The evening of my birthday all my family came round and I told them I felt lucky – but they just said ‘yeah yeah Grandad’ and didn’t believe me.

“I dozed off and so missed the numbers after the news, it was only the next day when I woke up early and checked on the computer that I found out.

John and Alice Biddlecombe.

“I couldn’t believe it – I had to go and have a walk around to let it all sink in.

“It came into my head straight away that Alice had something to do with it – it was definitely her influence that helped me win.

“We’d been married 60 years and I’m sure this is her way of saying she’s looking forward to us meeting again and talking about our lives.”