'How I won £1m on the Lottery - but still work at Asda'
“People will come into the store and ask if they can rub my arm for good luck.”
These are the words of Asda worker and National Lottery winner Amanda Lewis, who won £1 million on a Lucky Dip at the store where she works in Wolverhampton.
Customers will still find her ringing up their shopping at the Molineux Way supermarket – two years on from her big win. She has worked there for 16 years.
Yesterday a limited edition gold National Lottery kiosk, complete with ‘Lucky Charm’ Amanda’s hand-prints, was installed there in her honour.
She said: “People ask if I can sell them their tickets because they consider me to be good luck.
"I splurged a bit before I had a bit of a reality check and I still work here three days a week because my friends are here and I like to stick to everyday life.”
The 51-year-old, who moved from Featherstone to Stafford after her her win, bought her twins, Charlotte and Ryan, aged 23, both Audi cars.
She also shelled out on a plot of land for her daughter’s two horses, paid off her mortgage and bought a home for her father-in-law in Dudley.
She still remembers the moment she won.
She said: “It was a big shock. My colleague, Susan, realised I had won and I did not know what to do. It was so surreal.
“I sat in the car and thought if I should wait to call or if I should call them straight away. I ended up calling them or else I would not be able to concentrate as I drove home.
“My husband was working away and he called me back and asked how much I had won. I thought I had won £100,000 but then he asked how many zeroes there were and asked me to sit down when he told me it was actually £1m. I was lost for words.
“I hope someone else gets a bit of luck. I would love someone to tell me they have won.”
Colleague Susan Hill, of Oxley, Wolverhampton, has worked alongside Amanda for 10 years.
She said: “It was lovely when we found out she had won. She has been the biggest winner from the tickets that I have checked.
“It could not have happened to a nicer person and she has not changed a bit since. She is good at her job and she enjoys it so why give it up?”
Since the first draw on November 19 1994, The National Lottery has now created 5,000 millionaires.
