A FORMER mayoress of Derby, who scooped more than £1m on the Lottery two years ago, has told of the excitement that awaits jackpot winner Alan Rowley.

Ann Webster won £1,023,801 in May 2006 and, since then, she and her husband Donald, 54, have been adjusting to a millionaire lifestyle.

Like father-of-two Mr Rowley, 55, who won £2m on Saturday only 18 months after he was made redundant from Derby firm BemroseBooth Printers, the couple decided to go public with their win.

As a result, they are often invited to attend special meetings held by National Lottery operator Camelot.

These events see lottery winners from across the country get together to socialise and network.

Mrs Webster, who works as an equality and diversity manager for Derby City Council, believes the meetings are a great way to get advice and support.

The 52-year-old said: "When these millionaires, about 200 or so, get together, it's really helpful because we are all in the same position.

"You meet winners who won several years ago and they tell you the mistakes they have made but also the best things that they have done.

"We attended a dinner at Blenheim Palace, in Oxfordshire, earlier this year and it was lovely. The hotel we were in was beautiful.

"We also went to Somerset House a couple of years ago and we all had a go at ice-skating. One time, we also enjoyed a private viewing of the Crown Jewels.

"Alan will soon get the chance to find all this out."

Mr Rowley, who lives in Eastwood and set up a cleaning business, We Clean For You, in Borrowash and Eastwood in April last year, agrees Camelot has been highly supportive since his win of £1,925,567.

"They really look after you and they've done a great job at putting my wife, Sandra, at ease," he said.

"I went to one of their offices in Watford where a bank took care of the cheque and they offer loads of great advice. The press conference they held for me was really slick as well.

"I'm really enjoying all the media attention at the moment. My whole day should involve cleaning but I'm doing press conferences instead – it's scary.

"People say it doesn't change your life but it does. You can't help feeling completely different."

Mr Rowley is planning to spend some of his win on a caravan by the sea and new property.

Camelot publicity manager Simon Horne was keen to stress that the get-togethers for lottery winners were not designed to be self-help groups but an opportunity for people to celebrate their wins and work together through the issues involved.

He said: "In almost everything you go through in life, you'll always have someone nearby who has been through the same thing as you. When you win the lottery, you don't.

"No-one gets the opportunity to win twice and they don't want to make mistakes. By coming together, these winners can see that you can be a millionaire and still be completely normal.

"We offer a lot of support to winners after the draw. We don't just throw a cheque at them and leave them to it.

"We have private bankers who offer advice and independent people who answer any questions the winners may have."