An accountant who scooped a £1 million lottery prize has revealed how he transformed his windfall into a spectacular Lego empire, dedicating an entire room in his family home to his growing collection of Star Wars masterpieces.
From Dining Table To Dedicated Lego Room
Malcolm Haines, a 54-year-old father of three from Reading, has completely adapted his spare room to house what he describes as a "shrine to the little plastic bricks." The dedicated space became essential after his collection outgrew the family dining table, particularly following his acquisition of the massive Millennium Falcon model.
The Dream Purchases Begin
Malcolm's first major purchase after his January 2021 lottery win was the £550 Lego Death Star model, something he had coveted throughout the Covid lockdowns but couldn't previously justify buying. "Throughout those endless lockdown days I'd been eyeing some dream Lego purchases, specifically the Death Star," Malcolm explained. "But I could never quite justify the £550 price tag until I saw those six zeroes on my National Lottery app."
The excitement of that first purchase was soon surpassed when he ordered the £750 Millennium Falcon. "If buying the Death Star was exciting, I was buzzing when I pressed 'confirm purchase' on the Lego Millennium Falcon," he said. "Once built, at almost three feet wingspan, it was the tipping point for abandoning the dining room table and creating a dedicated space."
A Lifelong Passion Realised
Malcolm's love for Lego and Star Wars stretches back to his childhood, when he spent hours building with basic bricks and became fascinated with the iconic film series. As a father, he passed this enthusiasm to his son, treating him to Star Wars sets for birthdays and Christmas, though his own collecting had to take a back seat until his lottery win changed everything.
"I'm an accountant so not prone to irrational financial decisions," Malcolm admitted. "Winning Lotto changed all that. Since then, placing any order for a Lego set I would previously have dreamt of owning, but never actually bought, is like a mini 'I've won the Lottery' celebration."
More Than Just Plastic Bricks
While Malcolm continues working as an accountant despite his windfall, he acknowledges that the lottery win has brought much more than just plastic bricks. The family has enjoyed fabulous holidays to destinations including Peru, Canada and Iceland, achieved better work-life balance, and secured their children's university futures with reduced financial stress.
"Winning the lottery has been so much more than plastic bricks," Malcolm reflected. "It's enabled us to do all the sensible things you'd expect of accountants, making sure we are financially secure and that our children can head off to university without quite the same degree of stress, and we're incredibly grateful for that."
The Winning Moment
Malcolm's £1 million prize came from a Lucky Dip ticket purchased at Asda Supercentre in Lower Earley, Berkshire, for the draw on January 9, 2021. He revealed he had to hide the ticket on a shelf to prevent their Doberman puppy from eating it. Remarkably, the Watford FC season ticket holder had been predicting his win for years.
"Every time I drove to a Watford home game, I passed The National Lottery Head Office and I'd tell whoever was in the car with me, 'That's where I'll go to pick up my £1m'," Malcolm recalled. "It may have taken me a while but I did indeed collect my £1m."
The Joy Of Collection
For Malcolm, the true value of his collection lies in the memories associated with each build and the sheer joy of pursuing his passion without financial constraints. He has discovered many fellow lottery winners who share his enthusiasm for Lego, creating what he describes as a community of "plastic brick investors."
"When I walk into my Lego room, and take in all the builds, the memories that go with each one or browse the catalogue working out what will be the next order, I am no longer sensible accountant Malcolm," he said with evident delight. "I am the big kid with his toys and at 54 that's a fabulous feeling."
Malcolm shows no signs of slowing his collecting, promising to continue growing his empire of interlocking plastic bricks while balancing his sensible financial planning with the pure pleasure of childhood passions realised.
