TODAY we meet the lucky Adver readers who scooped the top prizes in our recent competition.
We had great prizes up for grabs, including a Nintendo Switch, an iPad and vouchers for M&S, Halfords and Argos. And now nine lucky readers have walked away with the prizes.
Several prize winners had the choice of a £100 of vouchers from Argos or M&S or a £150 Halfords voucher.
Lionel Harper, known to many as Colin, chose an M&S voucher after consulting his wife of 61-years Sylvie.
The former motor engineer and car salesman from Royal Wootton Bassett now plans to go shopping in the post-Christmas sales.
“We’ll go round M&S in the sales as we’ll get more for our money. She might want some shoes and a coat. It’ll be a nice excuse to do a bit of shopping,” the 84 year-old said.
It’s the first time I’ve won a competition – I’ve not been very good at winning things.”
Mary Tickner, from Greenmeadow, won an Argos voucher and is hoping to spend Christmas with her son and grandson.
The 76-year-old is retired, having formerly worked in the offices that provided catering at Nationwide.
“I’m not sure what I’ll do with the voucher yet. I probably won’t buy myself something so it’ll be something for either my son or grandson.”
Beverley Mitchell took home a £100 Argos voucher, which she hopes to use for a new phone.
The 59-year-old from Eldene will be spending Christmas with one of her daughters and Boxing Day with the other.
And she is expecting the arrival of her second granddaughter in January
“I was very surprised and happy when I won. I’d almost forgotten about it, so it was a nice surprise.”
David Pugh also took home an £100 M&S voucher.
The 84-year-old retired town planning consultant from Old Town has two children, and six grandchildren and has been reading the Adver since the 1960s.
He said: “I don’t usually do competitions but saw that the iPads was a prize and thought ‘that would be nice Christmas present for one of the girls,’ so I gave it a go.
“I give it another thought as I never win anything. When you rang me to say I had won, I thought it was a scam and got a bit flustered.”
David Causton is the lucky recipient of a £150 Halfords voucher.
The 87-year-old from Liden is a former member of the Grenadier Guards and retired steam train driver, who became the youngest driver in the eastern region after passing his test on his 23rd birthday.
David is no longer able to drive so he is planning on giving the voucher to someone who will make more use of it, but he’s not sure who yet.
“I appreciate the fact I won, but I can’t make use of it,” he said.
“I’m not able to get up the stairs anymore as I’ve got a stairlift, let alone driving a car,”
“I like to keep up with the news and I’ve been reading the Adver for a long time. I still remember the Pink with the football news.
“I have the best paper boy – Rob.
“He’s been reliable and on-time for three years.
“He’s always polite and he always gets me a Christmas card every year.”
Two of the prize winners were given an iPad.
The first, Tony Mayer, is a retired research manager and former Haydon Wick Parish and borough councillor who has lived in Swindon since 1978.
He moved to the town from London when the research councils were relocated here and trained as a geologist and worked in research management until he retired.
“I have read the Adver from our first arrival in the town when it was the Evening Advertiser and did not appear until around noon each day.”
“I occasionally enter a competition and did so on this occasion as we take the Adver each day and it was a pity to waste the tokens that you included.
“It was a pleasant surprise to win a prize an iPad.”
Linda Golder, a retired early years childcare worker from Redhouse, was the second winner to get their on an iPad.
The 64-year-old has four children and seven grandchildren and is looking forward to a Christmas with one of her daughters and her family, who are currently living with her.
“It was my daughter that said, ‘ooh you ought to take those tokens for the competition’ and then I remembered and cut all the stickers out and sent it off.
“I never, ever expected to win,” she said.
“I think I’m going to keep it for myself. I’ve never had an iPad and everyone else in my family has one already!”
Lee Hudson, from North Swindon, won a Nintendo Switch games console.
The 46-year-old project manager is married with two teenage sons.
He said: “I’m going to sell it to a friend to get a bit more cash for Christmas shopping as my son already has one.
“I was happy to win. I read the Adver most mornings when I have my breakfast.
“My son’s been a paper boy for the last year-and-a-half.”
The other winner of a Nintendo Switch is a 59-year-old man from West Swindon who wished to remain anonymous. He told The Adver he was giving it away.
He said: “We’re giving it to a charity called Get Well Gamers who supply games consoles to hospitals. It’s nice to think that some children in hospital will be able to enjoy it.”
Adver editor Pete Gavan said: “It was great to see so many readers getting involved in this competition and it’s good to meet the winners today and to find out what they plan to do with their prizes.”
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