As she has done for the past 30 years, Margaret Shearer continues to play bingo several times a week. A month or so ago, Margaret won the first £1 million bingo jackpot since Scotland’s gaming laws were relaxed to make such huge prizes possible.

The luck continues to run for Margaret’s family as her long-term playing partner, Mrs Greta Money (Margaret’s mum) won £140 and £74 on the trot.

Margaret’s big win came just three weeks after she was made redundant from her job with McVitie’s Biscuits. With legendary Scottish thrift, she has so far limited her splurge to a nice new jacket at the local Debenham’s sale.

However, Margaret and her partner Joe, who presently live in a Glasgow east end council flat, had been looking at houses just before her regular visit to The Forge’s Mecca bingo hall last Sunday night. The couple were inspecting detached properties in the £300,000 range in nearby Lenzie and Stepps.

Obviously not one for rushing into things, Margaret hasn’t seen a house that really suits herself and Joe yet. “We also went to look at cars,” says Margaret, “but were a bit disappointed in what we saw."

Margaret is keen to help her son David acquire a property. David seems to have inherited his mum’s level-headed, no-rush, matter-of-fact nature, and hasn’t been able to take time off from work to look around as yet.

Stunned at the time of her win, we asked Margaret whether it had finally sunk in, and changed her in any way. “I know people usually say that they won’t change if they win lots of money, but I really meant it,” she replied.

And will she keep on playing bingo?  “I love my bingo — it’s a social thing for me,” she said. “We were here Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday,” she added. “And at least I won’t have to worry about the price of the books any more!”

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