A Scots plumber and his wife were named as the latest lucky lotto millionaires after they scooped a jackpot worth almost £15 million. 

The couple's big win came over two weeks ago - but they still decided to go on holiday and kept it a secret before cashing in their ticket. 

John, 52, and Alison Doherty, 50, found out they had won an incredible £14,671,343 following the lotto draw on July 2. 

But that did not stop the coupe from Elderslie, Renfrewshire, from going on a relaxing family holiday to Florida a day after they found out they had won. 

Alison checked the ticket while at home eating lunch on the Sunday following the draw. 

She said: "My iPad was lying on the table so I decided I better check my ticket. 

"When the first three numbers matched I actually thought 'Oh good I've won £25'. Then the fourth number matched and the fifth. 

"When I realised I had all six numbers I couldn't believe it. I was screaming, lying on the floor, shaking like a leaf - just in complete shock." 

Alison called husband John, who has his own plumbing business, to come home from work and broke the good news. 

The mum-of-two said: "He made me get on the phone to Camelot straight away. Waiting for the winner adviser to call me back was the longest hour of my life. 

"When they did I was screaming again when the phone rang." 

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Photo credit: Jamie Simpson 


The couple decided they had to share their good news with someone as they knew they would be setting off on holiday the following day. 

They called John's twin sister, Julie Thomson, and asked her to come round. 

Alison said: "She thought we'd invited her round to have some cake but we just had to tell someone and say it out loud so we knew it was really happening. 

"John is a practical joker so her first reaction was that it was a wind up. 

"When I showed her the numbers on the iPad she burst into tears." 

Rather than take the precious piece of paper abroad with them, Alison decided to hide it at home. 

She explained: "I put the original ticket inside a hurricane lantern candle holder I have in the my bedroom. 

"I also made a photocopy and hid that in the box that John keeps his work boots in just in case. I wasn't taking any chances." 

While their holiday was a surreal experience Alison still managed to splash out on her first post-win purchase - a Coach designer handbag. 

Alison said: "I love handbags but this was $400. I walked around the store for about an hour before I worked up the courage to go to the cash desk. 

"I also saw someone pull up to our hotel in a beautiful Jaguar so I'm tempted to make that our new car. We love Formula 1 and have never been to a Grand Prix and that is definitely on our wishlist along with a new house. 

"We have two children and my son has also said he would love a new car. 

"He's asked for an Audi or a BMW but I will probably get him something more sensible. I am his mum after all." 

The couple celebrated their silver wedding anniversary and son Ryan's 20th birthday in June. 

But they will be scheduling in another party for family and friends to mark their life changing luck. 

When the Doherty family found out they had scooped £14million in the lottery, they celebrated by ordering ONLY Hawaiian pizza from Domino's for £45. 

And John reckons he will continue working as a plumber despite the big win. 

He said: "I enjoy my work and I've been doing it for 33 years. 

"I've got a lot of customers that I'm loyal to and I basically work by myself as a subcontractor. 

"At the moment, I'm going to carry on with it and it would be very hard to give it up. 

"I enjoy what I do and I've been enjoying it for a long time. 

"I was back at work yesterday so it really brings you down to earth." 

John and Alison have two children, Ryan, 20, and Laura, 11. 

Ryan, a third year student of Psychology at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, asked his parents if he could get a new car. 

He said: "At first I was completely mind-blown and couldn't get my head around it at all. 

"But the next thing that came into my head was 'oh my God, I could get a new car'. 

"I was initially joking but then it came into my head that I actually could. 

"I have a little Ford Fiesta at the moment but I'm looking for a wee upgrade. 

"I think me and my mum have a bit of difference in opinion over what I should get. 

"She doesn't think I should get anything too flashy or powerful but I'm thinking something more flashy and powerful. 

"I found out just before we went away on holiday. I'm surprised that I managed to keep it a secret for so long. I don't know how I managed but I did. 

"It's not going to change me in any way. I'll still shop at ASDA and I'll keep living with my friends in a flat." 

Alison is a former classroom assistant at Kilbarchan Primary School and John runs JDPS Plumbing Services in Renfrewshire. 

The couple met when they were working in a Jaconelli's ice cream van as teenagers and celebrated their silver wedding anniversary this year. 

They have lived together in their four bedroom house for over 20 years. 


Alison and John bought their ticket from the Nisa Store, Main Street, Elderslie. 

Their winning numbers from the Lotto draw on Saturday 2 July were 3, 9, 16, 19, 24 and 43.