Buckie Archives - Aberdeen Voice

Farmer’s Wife Becomes Overnight Millionaire

Nov 042016

With thanks to Eoin Smith, Senior Account Executive, Tricker PR.

A Scottish farmer’s wife who has won £1.2m on an online bingo and casino site won’t be saddling up for a life of luxury or galloping off on a round-the-world cruise. Mandy Bowman, who scooped the jackpot on Glossy Bingo’s Major Millions slot game, plans to spend her winnings on her beloved horses by building an indoor riding school and launching a livery.

Mandy (45), from Buckie in Moray, also plans to invest some of her prize money in upgrading buildings and machinery on the family farm so that she and husband, John (40), can expand their operations and have a more stable future.

The pair wed two years ago and have yet to have a honeymoon – but Mandy says there is lots of work to be done on the farm before they can even think about taking some time off to enjoy a much-needed holiday together.

“We’ll soon be lambing and then the cows will be out to the field, so it could be May or even June before we can take a holiday. My husband doesn’t have a passport, so when we do finally take a break it won’t be anywhere exotic – it will be in Scotland,” explains Mandy.

“I might treat myself to a 4×4 to make getting in and out of the farm easier. I asked my husband if he would like a new car, but he’s happy with the one he’s got. I’ve become a millionaire, but the day I really hit the jackpot was the day I met my husband.”

Mandy says she is still having to pinch herself after hitting the jackpot on Major Millions, but is determined to keep her feet on the ground despite winning a total of £1,185,253. She has four horses and wants to expand the stables on the farm so that she can operate a livery business and an indoor riding school.

She’s been a member of the Glossy Bingo website for around three years. She was at home playing the game on her phone, and had been able to win £400 before she decided to switch over to the Major Millions game – a five-reel online slot game with a progressive jackpot that is regularly over £400,000.

The object of the game is to match up three to five symbols in a row. Mandy says,

“When I switched onto the progressive jackpot, I started to lose. I was spinning away and I was down to my last £3. I thought there was no way I would win anything then.

“I spun again and all the symbols matched. I thought I was seeing things and then a message flashed up to say that I had won the jackpot. When I saw the number I thought it was a mistake or a joke – I really didn’t believe it.

“I didn’t sleep for about three nights afterwards. It has come as a huge shock, but a very welcome one. I’m not going to go wild and splurge it all on cars or holidays: we love this lifestyle and we love the farm, and we want to make a future for ourselves here.

“I wouldn’t say that I am even that much of a gambler. I’ll have a flutter once a month, and only with what I have in pocket money once all the bills are paid.

“My dad used to bet on horses and he always told me that you should only bet what you can afford to lose, and I’ve always stuck by that. It’s very good advice. I was very close to my dad and sadly he passed away last year – I like to think he was my lucky charm and he brought me this win.

“I might still have a game now and again as I play when I can sit down and have a cup of coffee and relax – it’s like a bit of chill-out time for me.”

Vincent Viaud, VIP executive of Glossy Bingo, travelled to Mandy’s home to hand over the cheque. He adds,

“I think that Mandy has shown a very sensible approach to online gaming in only betting what she can afford and playing only occasionally.

“This is the biggest win we’ve had on Major Millions. I hope that Mandy will enjoy the win and really do hope this hard-working couple can use some of the jackpot by finally taking a break from the farm and enjoying a honeymoon.

“Mandy does so much to help other people and does a lot of work for charity, and by winning I hope she will give something back to herself.”

Glossy Bingo is a premium online bingo and casino site from the award winning team that brought you ‘Butlers Bingo’, home of the record breaking £5.8 Million Jackpot winner. Powered by Microgaming, one of the largest and most trusted providers of online casino and bingo software in the world, Glossy Bingo – www.glossybingo.com – offers a range of different 90-ball and 75-ball bingo games as well as a choice of over 250 state of the art slot and casino games, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

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Shearer Defiant But Sheerin Triumphs – Keith 0 Arbroath 1

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Nov 212011

The usual Keith battle cry of “Come on Maroons” was always going to carry ambiguity when Banffshire’s finest were drawn against similarly-attired Arbroath in the Scottish Cup 3rd round. David Innes took up his regular spot beside the Kynoch Park dugouts to report for Voice.

After last week’s farcical Kynoch Park abandonment due to floodlight failure, Keith’s Scottish Cup tie against Arbroath was never likely to fall victim the same way. Not when the 200 additional Lichties come to town in noisy and good-humoured spirit. With Arbroath among the SFL Division 2 pace-setters and Keith’s unpredictable form, the clever money was on a comfortable victory for Paul Sheerin’s more experienced squad.

Possibly taking inspiration from Culter’s plucky draw in the early kick off, Keith matched Arbroath’s aggression and pace with no-nonsense safety first defending and might even have had a penalty when the visiting ‘keeper seemed to foul Graham Lonie who himself had just been booked for a challenge where he clearly won the ball.

Arbroath made chances but Keith no 1 Andy Shearer kept them out and a stunning double save from two point blank shots was a first half highlight.

Arbroath spent the early part of the second half putting pressure on Keith, but resolute defending, with Shearer continuing his earlier defiance, kept Keith in it. They almost took the lead, in fact, when Cammy Keith hit the post and when Jonny Smith came on to help the lone striker upfront, they began to trouble Arbroath’s defence.

It was well into injury time when an error by Garry McNamee saw Arbroath’s Steven Doris set free in the Keith box. Inevitably, he went down under a tackle, heroic Keith stopper Kris Niddrie was red-carded, and player manager Paul Sheerin coolly did the needful with the penalty. 94 minutes gone and a cruel exit for the brave Maroons.

All the more galling for a Highland League club was the loss of tournament sponsorship money for innocuous looking yellow cards for Lonie and McAskill and Niddrie’s injury time red.

The draw for Round 4 of the Scottish Cup will be made on Tuesday 22 November. Arbroath will feel fortunate to be in it and will rarely face a fiercer challenge than they did at Kynoch Park.

It’s back to auld claes and porridge for Keith. Due to progress in the Cup, participation in the Aberdeenshire Cup final and enforced idleness as Buckie and Forres replayed cup ties when due to visit, Keith have already lost ground by five games. Add the need to rearrange last week’s abandoned Deveronvale game and the inevitable postponements due to the upcoming Banffshire winter and it’s going to be a long season.

They can take heart, however from this brave performance. Repeat it on a weekly basis in the league and the Maroons will have a huge influence on the destination of the 2011-12 championship flag.

Shearer Wonderland. Duncan Shearer – The Autobiography

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Nov 052010

Books of interest to Dons fans are being published in ever-increasing numbers at the moment. David Innes advises Reds to remember this when writing to Santa next month.

As probably the last Dons striker who fans would have crawled over broken glass to watch perform some mundane dressing room activity such as tying up his socks, Duncan Shearer’s story is told in straightforward style, co-written by Paul Smith.

Fitba biographies are rarely controversial and the stories we really want to hear are inevitably kept from us. Shearer Wonderland is little different although Duncan expresses fairly strong views about his former boss Steve Paterson and that individual’s unfortunate personal problems, and doesn’t hold back when criticising former colleague John Inglis.

He also questions, as many of us do, the wisdom of spending precious cash on a Director of Football when the playing budget is pared to the bone. This is, however, no personal criticism of the current post-holder who Duncan describes as one of the most thorough and passionate managers for whom he played.

However, Duncan’s stint at Pittodrie was only a fleeting part of a long career and he gives insights to his life as a professional at Chelsea, Huddersfield, Swindon and Blackburn. Especially interesting are his reminisces of the financial side of a game which was much simpler then and his reaction to the different managerial styles of those he served, including Lou Macari and Osvaldo Ardiles.

Of course, the chapters about his time in the sacred red will be of most interest to Voice readers. His love for the club he eventually joined in the latter stages of his career, and which he was eventually to manage with Steve Paterson, is obvious. If you were there, you’ll know what a godsend a striker of Shearer’s ability and power was, and how much he was adored.

This affection was reciprocated and Shearer believes that his relationship with the fans was due as much to his refusal to stay aloof from supporters but to mingle with them socially, eschewing the hip footballers’ nightspots and lifestyle. Although he scored in our last trophy win, he is adamant that his most important Dons goal was the one which effectively put despicable Dundee United rather than the Dons into the First Division in 1995. And so say all of us.

Someone could have proof-read it better though – Neale Cooper is Peterheid’s manager – Neil Cooper is youth coach.

There are also intensely personal passages about the poverty of working class Lochaber and his parents’ struggle to survive financially and of traumatic family tragedies. Never forgetting his roots, there is significant coverage of his time in the Highland League as a Clachnacuddin player and as manager of Buckie Thistle.

Shearer Wonderland is well worth reading and it’s refreshing to read the life story of one of life’s good guys who appreciates the hand fate dealt him. Altogether now…”It’s a goal, Duncan Shearer….”

Shearer Wonderland. Duncan Shearer – The Autobiography. Black and White Publishing. 247 pages. £14.99. Co-written by Paul Smith.