Dennis Banfield dead aged 92: Ex-RAF serviceman who became UK’s oldest lottery winner after scooping £18million has died
BRITAIN’S oldest lottery winner has died aged 92 – five years after scooping £18million.
Former RAF serviceman Dennis Banfield hit the jackpot with wife Shirley, 87, and the pair shared their winnings with their two daughters.
Shirley, who was married to Dennis for more than 60 years, told The Sun: “He was so well liked but he’s gone now.
“He said when he was going, ‘I’ve had a good life, I’ve done a lot and I’ve seen a lot and I’m ready to go now’.
“We had a lot of tributes when he died.”
The pair, who stayed living in their modest three-bedroom semi-detached home after their win, burst into tears at a press conference when they were presented with the cheque for £18,139,352 in 2018.
They celebrated the win by going out for a meal at a carvery, which Shirley described as “nothing special”.
Dennis, who bought their home in Winterbourne, Bristol, for £2,095 in 1962, said of finding their numbers had come up: “Shirley went berserk, she went flying up in the air.
“Tina thought her mum had fallen over, and said: ‘Has mum had a fall?’
“I had the ticket in my hand for all of five minutes and didn’t see it again all day.”
They won with the numbers 5,8,9,10,38 and 53 on a Lucky Dip bought from their local newsagents Winterbourne News.
The shop closed around a month ago as the owner is suffering from cancer.
The butcher’s next door knew Dennis well and said Shirley still shops there and her favourite saying is “How much?” when told of the price for her meat.
Staff at Buxton’s Butchers said of Dennis: “He used to come in here all the time. He was fantastic.
“They gave lots of money to charity. The money didn’t change them at all really.”
Dennis, who spent 40 years working for the South West Electricity Board, met Shirley on a blind date.
They split the money with their two daughters Karen, 57, and Tina, 60.
Tina said at the time: “It’s not every day your parents call you at 8am to tell you they have won the lottery.
”So when they did make that call on Sunday, my first thought was it must be a mistake and I immediately headed over the check.
”Seeing those six numbers first on their TV screen and then also matching on the National Lottery site was a magical moment.”
Dennis said: “All that has ever mattered to Shirley and I is that the girls are okay.
“We joke that it’s just a matter of time and we are playing the lottery for them, so that they are financially secure forever.
“To know they are is a wonderful feeling.”
Dennis had joked that Shirley, a former local government officer and shop assistant, had told him to stop buying lottery tickets because ”they never won anything”.
He played the lottery since it began after switching from the football pools.
Dennis died “peacefully” last July.
His grandaughter Lucy Probert, 30, posted online: “Missing you more as everyday passes. We love you Grandad.”