When Cornwall’s National Lottery billionaire came forward to take stranded brides to their weddings during the pandemic, he had no idea it would become almost a full-time job three years later. I hadn’t.
But the sight of brides being driven to their dream weddings in a £250,000 Bentley Continental has become a familiar sight in Truro.
When Peter Condon, a former bus driver and former funeral director, won £13.5 million in the lottery, he did what many lucky winners have done since the National Lottery’s first draw 30 years ago. I did the same and rewarded myself with a selection of luxury cars, including a BMW. i8 and bentley continental.
Peter Condon has flown more than 25 Cornish brides to their weddings (Image: Martin Bennett/National Lottery) He said: “The funny thing is, when I won, I was driving a Ford Kuga, but no one asked me to chauffeur them anywhere right away.” After buying a BMW , a local young man came up to me and asked if I could take him to his school’s prom. I agreed, and since then it has snowballed with other students asking me to take them so they can arrive in style.
“One teenage girl was sitting in her car and actually crying because it was her dream car.”
It was during the pandemic that Peter, a grandfather of 10, branched out. She rescued a local bride whose wedding had been canceled four times, but when her wedding car couldn’t arrive in time.
Peter said: “It was a very memorable moment. When the bride left, she was about to get into her father’s car, but she looked up and saw my Bentley parked across the street. I looked at it and realized I had a beautiful wedding car.” .
“She cried so much that she had to go back into the room to fix her makeup.”
A grandfather of 10 takes teenagers to prom and offers a day out to hospice patients (Image: Martin Bennett/National Lottery)
Kind-hearted Peter waived the £500 car fee for a luxury wedding for all his ‘clients’ and said: “Since then, whenever I hear about brides who can’t afford a car, I’m going to volunteer.”
“I think we’ve had over 25 Cornish brides say ‘I do’.
“I always go there in my best suit to celebrate the happiest day of her life. The only price I have is to see the joy on their faces.”
Peter, who now has five luxury cars for his ‘customers’ to choose from, also uses his lottery winnings for other good deeds
He takes grieving relatives to funerals and takes patients from the local hospice for days on end.
One of the unforgettable moments was when he granted the wish of a terminally ill girl, “I just wanted to be a princess for one day.”
One of Peter’s unforgettable moments was when he granted a terminally ill girl’s wish to be a princess for just one day. (Image: Martin Bennett/National Lottery) “We received a call from a local hospice explaining that a young woman had terminal cancer and asked if we could help her realize her princess dreams. ?” said Peter. “I said I was going to put her in the car right away, and when I showed up she was wearing a stunning white princess dress, her hair and makeup all done. She was dressed like a beautiful princess. I also shed tears when I saw that.”
Peter added: “A few months ago I heard about a woman who couldn’t afford to attend her brother’s funeral in Redruth. I picked her up in my Bentley and drove her there for free. I couldn’t ease her grief, but at least I could save her from having to take the bus.”
His chauffeur work brought so much joy to so many people, whether it was for pennies saved or a once-in-a-lifetime trip in the car of their dreams, Peter’s generosity was Not limited to rings.
Peter explained: “Since winning, I have bought several houses and rent them out at reduced rent to local youth.
“It is very difficult for young people in Cornwall to get onto the property ladder, so I also give a little help to those who are helping themselves.
“The first couple I helped in this way were able to save up for a home, get married, and now have two children and a well-established family.
“I’d like to think they were National Lottery winners just like me!”
When Peter won his first lottery jackpot, he immediately donated £1.2 million to fund an anti-gravity hydro pool at the nearby Merlin Center in memory of his late wife Rosemary, who battled multiple sclerosis for more than 30 years. did.
He also bought a new Range Rover and handed it over directly to the center to be auctioned off in a raffle.
His donations totaled more than £1.4 million.
This November, the National Lottery celebrates its 30th anniversary, changing lives every day.
Since its launch in 1994, National Lottery has created more than 7,200 millionaires or millionaires across the games, with an average of seven millionaires each week. This means that a new millionaire is created every day of the year.
By playing National Lottery games, players generate £30 million every week for National Lottery-funded projects.
With more than 690,000 grants being awarded across the UK, this funding goes from local charities making a difference in the communities they live in, from the arts to sport, to helping our athletes win Olympic and Paralympic medals. We support all areas from helping you acquire.
