Couple who won £6.75MILLION on lottery reveal why they're still working in pub a decade on
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It's 11am and, at the Crown Inn, licensees Dean and Stella Hardman are opening for business, just as they have for the past 11 years.
And that’s despite the couple scooping a £6.75million Lottery win in 2006.
“I was sat just where you are,” says Stella.
“It was just a regular night with the locals, Dean was on the other side of the table and we were all checking our tickets as the draw was done on television.”
Dean nearly didn’t bother buying a ticket because it was bucketing down.
But he made the 300 yard dash to nearest shop, probably the best move he ever made.
They’d only played the lottery a couple of times before they won and opted to buy a ticket for the massive EuroMillions draw because of the size of the jackpot.
It was a roll-over and the £125 million jackpot had to go that night.
All five of Dean’s lucky dip numbers came up, but only one of the bonus star balls.
(Image: Daily Mirror)
Technically, he should have won £330,000, but there were no big winners anywhere in Europe, so the couple shared the pot with 19 other winners with one bonus star ball.
“We didn’t really know what was happening, one of the girls even ran down to the petrol station to see if they knew how much we’d won.”
The couple spent the night with a relative before learning of their staggering good fortune.
But the next day Dean, 43, didn’t race to the nearest Ferrari dealers and Stella didn’t head off on a shopping spree.
Dean went to watch Bury football club. “I can’t even remember who they were playing,” he admits.
‘It was all a bit of a daze.”
And Stella? “I was stuck in the pub,” she says. “I was doing the buffet for Dave’s dad’s 60th, cooking burgers.
“I had a list of things I thought I’d do if I won, but as soon as you get that win the list goes out the window and you never do any of the things on it.”
(Image: Tony Spencer)
But why are they still here over a decade on? Many pubs around Heywood, Greater Manchester, are shutting down.
“We love it.” said Stella. “We have good friends, good customers. Our fanily are all around here. Why would we go?
“About a year ago we were going to leave, but then at the last moment we decided against it.”
And Dave is still making the last minute dash to the shops to buy a ticket.
“I bought eight lucky dips, won £3.10 on one and £17 on the other a couple of week ago,” he jokes. “Another little winning streak.”
Dean and Stella, 48, married at a local hotel with a reception for family and friends and honeymooned in Disneyland in America.
“He’s my little toy boy,” she says. “What the win did do was buy us time, time together.
“Dean was working here and holding down another job. We didn’t have five minutes together.
“We were always going to get married but never had the time. It was nothing over the top, it was just a lovely lovely day with everyone we care for.”
There have been the odd big spend items.
(Image: Tony Spencer)
Dean splashed on an Audi R8 sports car - not a common sight in the market town - but at the moment it is in the garage.
“There was smoke pouring out of the exhaust in the shopping centre,” says Stella.
“I could barely breathe. I hate the bloody thing, it’s a realy boneshaker. I try not to go in it if I can avoid it.”
Dean admits: “It’s being fixed but it needs a special oil apparently...it’s £120!”
The couple also splashed out on a racehorse named in honour of Dean’s grandfather Stanley.
At first Stanley was stabled in Newmarket.
“Not exactly a triumph,” admits Stella. “In fact a disaster!”
Stanely’s move to new stables in Yorkshire was more of a success with the horse winning five races on the trot.
(Image: Daily Mirror)
Now retired with arthritis, Stanley lives on a friend’s farm in Devon and the couple have interests in two other racehorses.
Dean said: “We’ve been to Ascot, Goodwood, The Curragh in Ireland. Love it”
Family holidays, with their eight grandchildren are also a must. And every year a trip to Goa in India.
“We book for the following year the day we leave.” said Dean.
The couple received begging letters from every corner of the UK, and Dean was urged to buy Bury FC.
But the passionate fan admits: “I’m not that daft!”
In the time we have together, family and Stella’s ‘bestest friend’ call into the pub for a coffee, a chat and a hug.”
Stella adds: “We run a traditional pub - and we’re very proud of it.”