Electrician Arthur Rook was up a ladder decorating the front room of his home in West Watford when he heard he had won £141,000 on the pools.

“In all my years as an electrician this is the biggest shock I have had,” said 60-year-old Arthur, who works at Trewin Brothers store in Watford.

He said his wife, Nancy, who also works part-time at Trewin Brothers, had chosen the numbers for the winning line some years ago. “We were thinking of changing them but thank goodness we didn’t,” he said.

They have both worked at the store for more than ten years and Mrs Rook intends to take early retirement. “I shall miss my friends but not the 7am start,” she said.

Mr Rook would be happy to continue with his work but may retire early for health reasons and to devote more time to his hobby of mechanical engineering and tending his allotment and greenhouse.

Mr and Mrs Rook have two married daughters and three grandchildren who live nearby.

[From the Watford Observer of September 3, 1982]

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