Darby and Joan couple Peter and Margaret Rode have always wanted to replace the £30 engagement ring she lost over 40 years ago.
And now, after an incredible win at Betfred, this devoted couple in their 70s will be able to do so – and have plenty to spare for their best family Christmas ever.
Peter, a retired Navy dockyard worker from Plymouth, won £41,475 on a £5 accumulator at Betfred.
He beat the odds on Betfred’s Goals Galore Extra coupon when he predicted the winner of – and that both teams would score in – six games in the FA Cup and National League at the weekend.
There was a last-minute goal for Exeter, who lost 4-1 at Oxford, and for Eastleigh who pulled one back late on at Altrincham.
Walsall, who Peter predicted would beat Carlisle, only did so with goals in the 88th and 93rd minute to eventually triumph 2-1.
Meanwhile, Hartlepool got the better of Hartlepool 3-1 and Portsmouth scraped past MK Dons winning 3-2 – while Maidstone United triumphed 3-2 over Maidenhead United.
It took Peter just three minutes to fill in the coupon on behalf of Margaret, who was busy making his favourite Cornish pasties in the kitchen of their home in Whitleigh.
Peter, a 76-year-old great grandfather, said: “I shouted to Margaret that she needed to fill in her coupon and she asked me to do it because her hands were full of pastry.
“Normally I’d spend half-an-hour or so studying form, but I just went for home wins and didn’t really think that much about it.
“With it being her coupon, we’ll of course be sharing this brilliant win straight down the middle.
“The only thing I’m definitely going to do with the money is get this engagement ring we lost over 40 years ago replaced.”
Margaret, a 72-year-old retired shopworker, added: “He bought me the ring in 1963 for £30 or something like that, but it got lost over 40 years ago. We have skimped and scraped over all this time, and never really thought it was important to get it replaced.
“He is an absolute treasure and means the world to me. We do everything together and I suppose we deserve a bit of luck.
“It’s easily the biggest win we’ve ever had at the Betfred shop on Transit Way, Plymouth where we’ve been going every week. Up until now the biggest win was £600 on the Irish Lottery.
“As well as the ring, which I’m sure will cost more than the £30 it did when he bought it, we’ll be getting a new kitchen and chairs before Christmas as well as some plants for the garden.
“We should have a brilliant time this Christmas… that’s for certain.”
Betfred boss Fred Done said: “Love is certainly in the air down in Devon.
“It’s fantastic that this win means Margaret will be dazzled by a brand-new engagement ring at 72 years of age.
“To win such a substantial amount from a small stake is a marvellous achievement for this couple who are truly in love after all these years.
“By the way, I’m partial to a Cornish pasty myself, so if Margaret fancies sending me one of her delicious homemade ones by special delivery that’d be great!”
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