A Lottery winner who is celebrating the 25th anniversary of winning £1 million said he’s “loved every minute of it” - even the £50,000 his wife has spent on her ‘Robbie hobby’.
Mark and Cheryl Brudenell, from Teesside scooped the jackpot in February 1997 and since then the pair have followed Robbie Williams around the world, finally meeting him face-to-face in Las Vegas.
Mum Cheryl, 56, has seen her favourite star Robbie Williams at least 40 times, queuing up for hours to make sure she gets right down the front.
But hubby Mark 58, says he doesn’t mind one bit, because he’s very busy after setting up a successful business and learning to play golf, ending up with a handicap of 12.
“Cheryl has got her Robbie hobby and I’ve got my golfing hobby. I had lessons, bought the best clubs and I play off 12 now. I couldn’t afford it before I won,” he said.
Mark said of their win: “It’s been amazing and wonderful going on fantastic holidays and creating special moments. We really have loved every minute of it.”
Asked how much his wife’s Robbie hobby has cost them, he added: “We’ve probably spent more than £50,000 with all the hotels, flights, meet and greets, t-shirts and all the memorabilia.
“She has got discs auctioned at Sotheby’s. She has one of his platinum discs.
“When he’s in concert she goes with her two friends who live down on the south coast, they will get there the night before and get to the show at 8am because they have to get to the front. It is a bit sad,” he laughs.
“If he’s done Wembley we use this agency where they use VIP packages because I’m not queuing up at 8am.
“She finally met him for a meet and greet in Las Vegas a few years back and was over the moon. That cost us £1,000 each and Cheryl could hardly speak to be honest.
“He was just lovely and stood talking to both of us, asking us where we were from. We were first in line and there were 50 people waiting.
“We have spent thousands, going to concerts all over Europe and I just let her get on with it.”
But it is their double glazing business, Almark, they are most proud of.
They set it up five years after winning the lottery.
“I used to drive chemical tankers for a living and after we won I stopped working for a couple of years,” he explained.
“But after buying properties and going on holidays, I didn’t want to get bored and I needed a purpose.
“I was 32 when I won and I could not see me doing nothing for the rest of my life.
“It’s a double glazing business and we build big orangeries too. That’s what keeps me busy.
“It’s been fantastic and it’s a very successful business. But you need the money to start the business and that’s what helped.
“I could have forgot about the lottery money as we’ve earned that ten times over. And that’s all down to the fantastic staff I’ve got.
“We sponsor Middlesbrough games so we get a box and I give them nights out.”
The couple also support their local charities including a hospice for babies called Zoe’s Place.
He adds: “It’s important to keep your feet on the ground. It does not make you any better than anyone else, you just learn to enjoy it.”
Even their two boys, aged 36 and 38, work hard on oil rings, he said, adding: “They are both grafters and married. We have three grandchildren now and we dote on them. They are spoiled as much as they can be.
“But we still would like to see them have the work ethic when they grow up.”
