Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Bingo win is a nice little Ernie

A KNOWLE man who was made redundant three years ago has scoopedmore than GBP202,000 playing bingo.

Ernie Reed won the jackpot at the Riva Club, in Knowle, on Sunday.

The 56-year-old plays at the club, based in the Broadwalk ShoppingCentre, six times a week and refers to it as his second home.

He won the National Bingo Game prize of GBP200,000 plus a furtherregional prize of GBP2,733 and the club prize of GBP145, completing afull house in 42 calls.

Mr Reed worked for the Courage Brewery for 30 years until he wasmade redundant three years ago when it closed.

He will be sharing his good fortune with his friend Vic Bundy,from Withywood, who he worked with at the brewery and who playsbingo with him.

Ernie's wife Rita, with whom he has four sons and a daughter aswell as 12 grandchildren, is also a bingo player.

Mr Reed, who joined Riva when it opened, said: "You could call mea professional bingo player!

"I can't get enough of it. This win has changed our lives.

"I only had my redundancy money and a pension to live on before sothis will set us up for life.

"We will buy our council house that we have lived in since 1968."

Steve Pidgeon, Riva general manager, said: "I am delighted thatone of our most regular customers has won so much money."

Riva will be hosting a relaunch party this Sunday following aGBP500,000 refurbishment.

Mr Reed is the second big winner in Bristol in less than a month.

An unnamed 73-year-old grandmother from Mangotsfield won more thanGBP101,000 on April 10 at the Mecca club in Barton Hill.

She plays there four times a week and intends to share her prizewith a friend at the club.

Last year there were two big winners at Hengrove's Gala Club, withHartcliffe nurse Jacinta-Fatima Bujia, 40, winning more thanGBP84,000 and another unnamed woman sharing a GBP32,000 jackpot.

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