Former Scots police officer reveals spending spree after lottery jackpot win

A former Scots police officer who became a millionaire has revealed his spending spree, including buying a new car, golf clubs and paying for a wedding.

Davie Crowder, who worked for the former Grampian Police, scooped £1.2m through the Postcode Lottery with ten neighbours in Bridge of Earn in April last year.

Since then, the 63-year-old has commissioned a luxury bungalow, bought a Mercedes and new golf clubs, and spent on family and friends.

Davie, who was also a sergeant in the Black Watch, won the Postcode Lottery’s biggest prize pot in Scotland to date.

King-hearted Postcode Lottery millionaire Davie Crowder has told of his incredible 12-month spending spree since winning £1.02m. People's Postcode Lottery

Every ticket was worth £340,000, but Davie tripled his prize by playing with three tickets.

Two others banked £680,000 with two tickets, and eight pocketed £340,000 each with one ticket. 

The dad-of-two bought cars for his kids, took his family on a luxury holiday to Greece, and is picking up the tab for his daughter’s wedding this year.

An avid golf fan, he’s eyeing a trip to Augusta and also donated cash to his local club in Dunkeld.

Davie said: “It’s been life-changing. It’s made my life so much easier. I’ve been able to help my family and friends, which I would do anyway, but not to that extent.

“We always say it never happens to guys like me, but it does. It’s insane, it really is – but a nice insane. It’s a mad, mad thing – but it’s great.

“The big thing is the security, not just for me but for the family as well. Their futures are pretty much secured now, too.”

He added: “It doesn’t sink in until you see it drop in the account. For months, I just sat on it. I bought the car and a few bits and pieces, but I just left it in the bank until I decided what I was going to do with it.

“My daughter phoned and asked me to take a screenshot of my bank balance when the money came in. I sent it to her, and she swore on the phone.”

The grandad says he’s happy to continue supporting bodies such as Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) through the Postcode Lottery.

He said: “I never join these lotteries to win; I like contributing to them. You just have to look at the helicopter out there, to see what the benefit is.

“It’s a great feeling when you can help charities like SCAA. I’ve been in helicopters since I was 19 in the Army and my son is in and out them every other day while working on the rigs.

“When I was in the police, there were quite a few serious incidents where the air ambulance came along to help out. There’s a connection there all the way through.

“And I have a few ex-colleagues from the police now working for the air ambulance up in Aberdeen. It takes a lot of money to run these things.”

SCAA is to receive £300,000 of Postcode Lottery funding every year in addition to the £1,150,000 players have already raised.

The new funding stream meant take-off for Operation Skyward, a push to raise an additional £2m every year to fund a brand-new aircraft at their Aberdeen base.

Described as the UK’s most advanced helicopter, it will take to the skies later this year.

In the year to March, SCAA had nearly 1,000 callouts for its Perth and Aberdeen-based helicopters and rapid response vehicles. They airlifted 326 patients to hospital and handled 347 trauma cases.

Criona Knight, director of development and engagement, said: “As a charity, we are really conscious that without the players there wouldn’t be this pot of funding that we get every single year.

“It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to sit face to face in front of someone to say thank you for supporting the charity for so long and for playing People’s Postcode Lottery.”