I remember when Wearside went Winsday crazy as the first midweek National Lottery arrived in Sunderland
Wearside was getting ready for a new addition to the Lottery scene 29 years ago this month.
It was Winsday time and that meant the first ever midweek Lottery draw was on the way.
‘Wearside went lottery daft’
The Sunderland Echo was on the scene to capture the views of locals and this is what we reported at the time.
“Wearside went lottery daft as queues of millionaire dreamers snapped up Winsday’ tickets,” said our reporter in 1997.
“Tony Pucci was rushed off his feet at his newsagents in Leechmere Road as people rushed to buy tickets for Britain’s first midweek Lottery draw.”
Fellow newsagent Jim Wightman, from Silksworth, said at the time: “It was a bit hectic this morning selling papers and tickets.”
Jumping German Shepherd and a budding bard
Most post offices planned to stay open until 7.30pm on Wednesdays from to cope with the ticket rush.
To give you a reminder of what else was in the news, all of this was happening.
Magic Meister, a jumping German Shepherd dog, has been going down a storm in Sunderland.
The two-year-old pet pooch has been taught lots of tricks by his owner Alan McManus. He can jump the length of three people, weave in between their legs and hurl himself through a hoop.
Young music fans and musicians were working to get Sunderland’s first youth’ radio station off the ground.
The first in a series of gigs aimed at helping to finally launch Wired FM was being staged at The Basement beneath Rosie Malone’s in Holmeside.
How to get the latest Echo news
Budding bard Natalie Watson became the youngest entrant in a new collection of poetry.
The talented 12-year-old, who attends Houghton Kepier School in Dairy Lane, is one of three children to have their works included in the book, Inspirations, which is now on sale.
Tell us about your memories of Sunderland in the late 1990s by emailing [email protected]
In case you missed it;
The Sunderland Echo’s newsletters deliver news and sport highlights to your inbox - sign up for free here
Support your Sunderland Echo and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest football stories and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.