In a heartwarming act of kindness, a lottery-winning couple teamed up with The X-Factor’s LMA Choir to bring holiday cheer to a 104-year-old war veteran. Nigel and Sharon Mather, who won £12.4 million in the Euromillions in 2010, have spent the past decade using their fortune to help worthy causes.
Armed with a luxury Christmas hamper, the couple visited Tom Beevers, a former soldier who served in the Second World War with the ‘Desert Rats’ of the 6th Royal Tank Regiment. Tom, a devoted Everton fan, danced in his doorway in Maghull, Merseyside, and sang along as the choir and couple performed his favorite Christmas carol, Silent Night.
Moved to tears, Tom expressed his gratitude, saying, “It’s a very good feeling to have all of these people turn out. I can’t put words to it.” Tom, affectionately known as ‘Beev’ by his comrades, served in Italy and Cairo, Egypt.
Tom’s daughter, Lynn Davidson, and granddaughter, Alison Lally, shared stories of his wartime efforts, including how he made apple pies for his fellow soldiers. Lynn recalled, “He used to make a little oven and gather all the ingredients. The cook used to make two lots of soup or stew, but his nose always used to drip. There used to be a lookout, and as they were going through to get the food, they would point to the one his nose hadn’t dripped in so they could avoid snotty soup.”
Alison added, “He had a chameleon that he used to keep under his beret and carry around with him. He tells us so many stories.” Despite his 104 years, Tom hasn’t lost his sense of humor and shared jokes about Everton’s Premier League performance and how Christmas Day is always a “booze up.”
Reflecting on the surprise performance, Lynn said, “Silent Night is his favorite because in the war, they used to sing it a lot. He taught me to harmonize it with him, and he used to be able to sing it right the way through in German. He’s absolutely made up to have seen everyone show up today and sing it for him. It’s been so wonderful.”
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Nigel, 56, and Sharon, 50, who live with their two young sons in Bowdon, Cheshire, have been actively involved in charitable work since their lottery win. They believe that winning the lottery gives them the opportunity to make a difference and set their own timetable to help others. Nigel shared, “We have helped a fair few charities, so we keep busy.”
When asked about their Christmas plans after winning the lottery, Nigel replied, “The same as before – a bit more hectic. We have been away at Christmas before, but not since the lockdown, so we’ve just got some family and friends coming round. Hopefully, it’ll be a nice peaceful family day, spend some time with the kids, and enjoy it. We are in a good position, but hopefully, we’ve supported enough charities so that other people and their families can enjoy Christmas as well.”
