Harold Wright gets a kiss from singer Olivia Newton-John as she presents him with a cheque from Vernons Pools
Birmingham Post Reporter
A Walsall builder, Mr. Harold Wright, who has won £102,426 on the pools, told yesterday of a pact he had made with his brother-in-law, who was planning to emigrate to Australia.
He asked Mr. Gordon Dolman and his wife to share a pools stake and stay in Britain if they won. They both agreed, and their thirteenth entry came up with a fortune.
The win shared by Mr. Wright, the brother of Walsall’s Mayor, Coun. Sidney Wright, came just in time Mr and Mrs. Dolman and their four children were waiting for their flying dates to Australia.
Mr. Wright travelled with his wife, Brenda, and their three children to the Waldorf Hotel, London, from their £4-a-week council house in Buxton Road, Bloxwich, to collect the cheque from pop singer Olivia Newton-John.
With them were the Dolmans from Waverley Road. Bloxwich. Mr. Wright’s parents, and brothers and sisters, were also at the reception.
Yesterday’s biggest pools pay-out went to a housekeeper, Mrs. Marie Prosser of Writtle near Chelmsford. who won £251,232.
Ed - £102,426 a nice sum in 1971!