Cornwall dad wins £100,000 on a lottery scratchcard... days after losing his mum to cancer
Simon 'Wilf' Wilcock from Helston and his wife are planning a house move and a holiday after working throughout the pandemic
A Cornish signwriter has won £100,000 on a National Lottery scratchcard, just days after tragically losing his beloved mum to cancer.
Simon Wilcock from Helston, known to his friends as 'Wilf', has described it as the 'best and worst week of his life'.
The 44-year-old, who owns Phoenix Signs, and his Health Visitor wife, Becky, have both worked throughout the pandemic.
The couple are now planning a house move and a holiday, after having not managed to take a honeymoon since they got married in 2019.
Wilf and Becky, who have two young sons, have described it as a 'sign from above'.
"I normally play Instant Win Games on my phone," said the father of two, who was watching telly, when he decided to try his luck.
"I have an order in which I play the games in, as they show up on my phone screen.
"I don't usually play £100,000 Jackpot Yellow, but for some reason I did this time, and I'm so glad that I went for it.
"Maybe it was a sign from above, as I certainly feel that Mum was looking down on me and I know she would be over the moon, just like my dad is".
Simon 'Wilf' Wilcock
Health Visitor Becky was the first person Simon told when he realised he hadn't won his usual £5, rather an amazing £100,000, and he then phoned his emotional father to break the news.
Because he admits to being 'a bit of a kidder,' Simon had some trouble convincing his dad, and then his mates, that he had come into money!
Simon added: "It's been such a strange year for us all. Becky and I worked flat-out throughout the lockdown. I had a few weeks where I couldn't open the shop and was taking care of the home schooling, but as soon as I could reopen, there was plenty of need for our services, which I'm very grateful for.
"Losing mum after her valiant eighteen-month fight against cancer is obviously the biggest, most horrendous downside of the year, for all of us as a family.
"She is a huge loss and this has given us just a glimmer of happiness".
Simon 'Wilf' Wilcock
You can watch Simon's heartwarming story below...