Imagine making your way to bingo one day and in your wildest dreams the most you can fathom at the moment is winning a Full House for a couple hundred. For Marilyn Phillips the biggest bingo dream for any player came true when she scooped up a staggering £45,000.
She has played at the Castle Bingo in Morriston for the past 23 years and her dedication to the hall has paid off big time.
It all happened to her on March 22 when she realized she won the jackpot prize.
he 73-year-old said: “I’ve been going to the bingo hall about three times a week for the last 23 years.
“I often go along with my friends. I mostly go to spend time with people and I’ve been going there for so long now that I know everyone and everyone knows me too.
“I’ve never won anything big. I won £1,000 once and a couple of small wins here and there, but otherwise I never expected I would win anything.
“I just couldn’t believe it when I realised I had won so much money. I didn’t even realise we were playing for that much money.
“When they called the number I had been waiting for, I just went into shock. I couldn’t even call out. My friend had to do it for me.
“The staff came to my table and said, ‘Oh it’s you!’ and they were really pleased for me. They have been so lovely.”
She was awarded the big check and Castle threw her a big party to celebrate her victory.
“All my friends came along to celebrate,” she said.
“Everyone has been really supportive and congratulatory about my win. I really appreciate that. The staff have been absolutely exceptional. The party was just amazing and I can’t thank them more for making such a fuss.”
Asked what she would do with her winnings and she had this to say:
“I’ll give a bit of money to my grandchildren and I’m hoping I will be able to book a holiday to Barbados later this year. I’ve been there before and it’s just beautiful,” she said.
“I’ll also be spending some money on my garden. I’m always in the garden tidying up or planting new things.
“I’m also really interested in DIY. I’m forever changing my house or sprucing it up, so I’ll definitely be using some of the money for that too.
“I’ve just bought a small summer house but now I think I’ll be able to afford one that’s a little bit bigger now!
“I’m honestly just so pleased about winning. It was a real surprise, but it was absolutely wonderful. I’m just so grateful.”