Les Scadding (born 1955 / 1956) is an English former mechanic who acquired media attention as the winner of UK£45.5 million (equivalent to £63.8 million in 2023) on the EuroMillions lottery in 2009. Following his win, he invested a portion of the money in becoming the major shareholder of Newport County A.F.C., and acted as the club's chairman between 2012 and 2015.
Les Scadding | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1955 or 1956 (age 68–69) Bristol, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Known for | UK£45.5 million lottery win in 2009 |
| Television | The Welsh Millionaires Club |
| Spouse(s) | Rose-Marie (m. 1982 / 1983; div. 2000) Samantha Peachey (m. 20??; div. 2013) |
| Children | 3 |
Biography
editBorn in Bristol, Scadding married his first wife, Rose-Marie, in 1982 / 1983; they were married for 27 years, and had two daughters and a son together, before divorcing in 2000.[1] At the time of his lottery win, the then-53-year-old Scadding had for some time been resident in Newport, Wales, where he lived with his second wife, 38-year-old Samantha Peachey-Scadding.[2] Scadding had been unemployed for a year before buying the winning ticket,[2] and had overcome testicular cancer some years earlier.[3]
In June 2009, Scadding and his wife won UK£45.5 million (equivalent to £63.8 million in 2023) through the lottery EuroMillions. At that time, it was the largest single lottery win in the United Kingdom, exceeding a 2007 win of £35 million (equivalent to £54.7 million in 2023), by a person in Scotland.[2] Scadding gave each of his three children an undisclosed seven-figure sum, but did not share any with their mother.[1][4][5] Scadding and his second wife separated in 2013.[3]
Television
editIn August 2014, marking the 20th anniversary of the National Lottery being introduced in the United Kingdom, Scadding was the presenter on The Welsh Millionaires Club, a four-part TV series for ITV Cymru Wales.[6]
Newport County
editIn August 2012, Scadding succeeded Chris Blight as the chairman of Newport County A.F.C., a club in the lowest of the five nationwide professional football divisions in England, shortly after accepting an offer to join their board of directors.[7] Just over eight months after he took the position, under manager Justin Edinburgh, Newport defeated fellow Welsh club Wrexham in the 2013 Conference Premier play-off final, to gain promotion to the Football League following a 25-year absence[8]
On 18 June 2015, Scadding resigned his positions as both the chairman and a director at Newport County.[9] It was later reported that Scadding wished to spend more time at his holiday home in Barbados.[10] On 1 October 2015 Newport County Supporters' Trust took over ownership of the club.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b Smith, Richard (9 February 2012) [12 November 2009]. "EuroMillions winner Les Scadding's ex-wife: 'I'm pleased for Les, but I would rather have my happiness than his fortune" - exclusive". Mirror. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
- ^ a b c "UK Lottery winners are unveiled". BBC News. 10 November 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
Les Scadding, 53, an unemployed mechanic, and wife Samantha Peachey-Scadding, 38, from Caerleon... Until now, the biggest single win was by Angela Kelly, from South Lanarkshire, who won more than £35m (39m euros) in August 2007.
- ^ a b Hicks, Amber; Dewey, Philip (6 October 2018). "The National Lottery so-called 'curse' and how it's torn couples apart after jackpot win". WalesOnline. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
Speaking in 2009, testicular cancer survivor Mr Scadding said...
- ^ Smith, Richard (28 November 2009). "£45m lottery winner Les Scadding gives nothing to mother of children". Mirror. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
Rose-Marie Jones, 52,... was an 18-year-old dental nurse when she wed Les - a mechanic aged 26... But in 2000, after 27 years of marriage...
- ^ "Bristol lottery winner shares fortune with children". Bristol Post. 30 November 2009. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
- ^ "Lottery Winners Anniversary: Meet the 'Welsh Millionaires Club'". ITV News. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Millionaire Les Scadding takes over as Newport County chairman". BBC Sport. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
- ^ Hughes, Dewi (5 May 2013). "Wrexham 0 - 2 Newport County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
- ^ "Newport County: Les Scadding resigns as Exiles chairman". BBC Sport. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Supporters Trust awaits Newport County financial report". BBC Sport. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Fans' Newport County takeover a step closer". BBC Sport. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2024.