National Lottery winner scoops £1m jackpot after playing his late father's lucky numbers

Sean said: "My dad had a little booklet which he wrote his Lotto numbers in."

Following his father's death, Sean kept playing the same combination as a way of maintaining a connection with his dad rather than simply out of routine.

The winning numbers were 6, 20, 34, 38, 47, with a bonus ball of 4.

The booklet containing his father's cherished numbers had actually gone missing for several years after James died.

Sean only stumbled upon it again around Christmas time, prompting him to resume entering the familiar combination.

That decision proved life-changing when he secured the jackpot on January 3, 2026.

Sean said: "To think that my dad chose these numbers all those years ago before he died is just unbelievable and it's a really nice connection to my dad's memory

"At first after he passed away, I would put the numbers on each week but then I lost the booklet.

"I only found it again recently, around Christmas time, and I decided to start playing the numbers again and that's how I won."

The moment Sean discovered his extraordinary win came during an evening out with his wife Sara at a local pub.

He had opened The National Lottery app to purchase a ticket when he noticed the £1m prize notification.

"I was in the pub on a date night with my wife Sara when I decided to go on The National Lottery app to put a ticket on."

"It was at that point I saw I had won a prize on the Lotto and it was £1m. I was in total shock!" he recalled.

Confirming the win proved challenging, as the traditional Cotswold pub had poor mobile reception, leaving Sean frantically searching for a signal.

"When I eventually managed to get reception and speak to someone and they confirmed I had won £1m, it was absolutely unbelievable, and a moment I will never forget! We had a few extra drinks to celebrate that night."

Sean, who works for a bespoke electronics company, has no immediate plans to leave his job despite the windfall.

"I won't be giving up work just yet," he said, "but I am planning on upgrading my car to something larger and more comfortable."

Top of his priorities is purchasing a property with outdoor space after spending years as a tenant.

Sean said: "I'm so grateful to my dad to have chosen these numbers, the money is going to make a real difference to our lives.

"Being able to buy our own house after years of renting is going to be so great and we would love somewhere with a garden," Sean explained.

The keen gardener, who currently tends an allotment, is also looking forward to planning trips and special outings with Sara.

Dean O’Field, Winners’ Advisor at Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, said: “I just love hearing stories like Sean’s where there is a really special story that led to his winning numbers.

"Huge congratulations to Sean and I hope him and his wife Sara enjoy choosing their new home.”