JACKPOTTY
GORDON TAITLOTTERY winner Bob Westland has finally put his feet up EIGHT YEARS after scooping pounds 3.7million.
Bob, 64, and his wife Anne were Scotland's biggest Lottery winners when they won the jackpot in 1995.
Bob quit his job running a village post office - but then sank a huge slice of their winnings into buying a country house hotel to run.
But now, after turning the Dunmar House Hotel into a thriving business, Bob has decided it is about time he handed it over to his sons and took life easy.
Bob said: "We put a lot of hard work into the hotel in the early days, even serving dinners on Christmas Day one year.
"But with the boys now in charge of things we can afford to spend time with the grandkids and generally relaxing.""
Bob originally made news after his huge win when he refused to quit his job as the sub-postmaster in Plean, Stirlingshire, until bosses could find a replacement.
Ironically, he had taken early retirement from his former job at BP to run the post-office when he hit the jackpot.
Wife Anne,now 63, retired from her career as a primary school deputy head teacher and the couple bought the rundown hotel near their home in Alloa, Clacks, and set about transforming it into a successful business.
And while they worked, Bob and Anne refused to take a break, despite their wealth, in a bid to make the business flourish.
Now with the three star, nine-bedroom hotel doing well, the couple have passed the reigns over to their three sons.
Chris, 32, and Robert Jnr, 31 have taken over the day-to-day running of the hotel, where a double room costs pounds 85 a night, while the eldest brother David, 37, runs the conferencing side.
But while Bob is enjoying more free time with Anne and their seven grandchildren, he still can't resist popping into work to see how things are going.
He said:"Having worked all our lives, we decided to invest in a lifelong dream of owning the Dunmar House Hotel.
"Anne used to live near it as a child and used to dream about having it one day.
"The plan was to provide our family with a lifetime of security. By returning the Dunmar to it's former glory, we were able to do that.
"We've turned the hotel into a family business which our customers seem to like.
"By letting the boys take charge, we can take a back seat and go on holiday whenever we want." However, Bob said he is still happy to fill in for his sons if an emergency arises. He said: "I do get the occasional phone call from one of the boys.
"I even made a trip to the cash and carry for them recently - I suppose that's what parents are for!
"But usually Anne and I are on baby-sitting duties, which is no problem at all.
"We don't mind spoiling the kids rotten and I doubt they mind it either!"
Bob does admit though to spending a bit more time at the bowling club than he could before he won the Lottery.
He said: "I did play a bit of golf but I put my back in a couple of times. I think I'll stick to the bowls - it's a very social and laid-back sport."
Apart from splashing out on the hotel, the couple's only other extravagance was swapping their five- bedroomed house for the former home of the Earl and Countess of Mar and Kellie.
The property, Claremont House in Alloa, has eight bedrooms, three reception rooms, three bathrooms, a panelled reception hall, a huge kitchen and extensive outbuildings. It also has its own orchard and an acre of gardens.
But even that only set them back an extra pounds 170,000, leaving them plenty left over from their winnings.
However, the couple claim winning a lot of money makes you more aware of what is a fair price.
Anne said: "I do have a Rolex and a Gucci watch but they are both fakes.
"Even my pearls are fakes!
"If someone is going to mug you, I would rather hand over something worth a few pounds than something expensive - it looks the same anyway."
And the couple aren't taking it easy even today, as they've offered to look after two of their grandchildren while their parents fly off to New York for a long weekend break.
But Bob and Anne say they will give themselves one treat - to go to a millionaires' dinner held late this year for winners of the Lottery.
Copyright 2003 MGN LTD
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