A fortunate couple, deeply in love, shared their initial date on Valentine’s Day, and nearly two decades later, their luck soared to new heights. Richard and Sally Thursby, who fell madly in love on February 14, 1994, became instant millionaires through a ‘Valentine’ lottery ticket in 2015. Sally, aged 60 and from Virginia Water, Surrey, stumbled upon a ‘lucky penny’ and decided to participate in the draw as a Valentine’s Day surprise for Richard, resulting in a £1 million lottery windfall.
The couple, blessed with three children, had promised to tie the knot if they ever struck lottery luck – a promise they fulfilled. Sally, a retired caregiver who continued to assist the elderly during lockdown, expressed, “Not only did we have our first date on Valentine’s Day, but we also purchased a winning Lotto ticket on the same day, 19 years later.”
Recalling their first encounter, Sally shared, “I first met Richard in a pub after a friend introduced us, and I was thrilled when he asked me out. I vividly remember nervously waiting on my parents’ driveway for him to arrive. Our date took us to London’s Chinatown for dinner, and his politeness stood out to me; he even gifted me a rose.” She continued, “Since that initial date, we have stood by each other’s side through all of life’s challenges. Despite early days of juggling three young kids and long work hours, our celebrations were modest, but that date remained special to us as the day we fell in love, our ‘lucky day’.”
Richard, aged 62, remarked, “I hadn’t realized it was Valentine’s Day when I asked Sally out for the first time. It seems Cupid’s arrow was at play because we have been inseparable ever since.”
Sally mentioned that they always take a moment on Valentine’s Day to commemorate the day they met and their £1 million win. “It truly marks a life-changing anniversary,” she added. Reflecting on the fortuitous day in 2015, Richard shared an anecdote of finding a penny and Sally’s lighthearted gesture, unknowingly setting the stage for their momentous win.
Despite the lottery fortune, Richard, who worked as a joiner since age 16, faced a health scare in 2019, landing him in intensive care for two weeks due to a brain bleed. Sally expressed, “It was an unimaginably stressful time, but our lucky Valentine’s win was a beacon of hope during that period and the subsequent months of recovery.”
Preserving the symbolic lucky penny, Sally keeps it in a ring box alongside her jewelry, stating, “Its value may be a mere penny, but to us, it signifies £1,000,000.” Having retired as a caregiver, Sally now prioritizes spending time with her children and grandchildren.
“We were able to upgrade to a larger house so our kids could have their own spaces. Today, our home is filled with the laughter of grandchildren. Family has always been our top priority, so our win was always about enriching their lives too.”
