Euromillions Winners keep Waverley Paddle Steamer Steaming Away

Thanks to a donation from Euromillions winners Chris and Colin Weir, the iconic Waverley Paddle Steamer is staying afloat and in business for another 12 months.

The couple famously won the £161,000,000.00 Euromillions jackpot in July this year.

They generously donated an undisclosed amount of money to the Waverley development board to keep the Waverley Paddle Steamer afloat.

The Waverley is the only remaining sea-going paddle steamer in the world.

The Steamer was going to be closed down at the end of this year due to an increase in running costs and no available funding.

Appeals were made across the United Kingdom for people to donate to the board, through this, they managed to raise £140,000 but they need more than twice that to keep it running. There seemed no choice but to shut down the service.

Then the Euromillions lottery winners stepped up to the plate and donated enough money to save the Waverley Paddle Steamer and keep it running for at least one more year.

Charlie Gordon, chairman of Waverley's development board, said: "The generosity of Chris and Colin Weir has been wonderful.

"In many ways it reflects the support we have received across the country, but to see philanthropists backing their communities in this way is great, and we can't thank them enough.

"What was most heartening was Chris's commitment to our vision of the Waverley being at the heart of the economic and cultural lives of the communities she serves."

However, Mr Gordon stressed that the Waverley was still vulnerable and a community partnership funding package was needed for the future.

Chris and Colin Weir won £161,000,000.00 in the Euromillions draw that took place on 15^th July 2011. Their winning numbers were 6, 26, 33, 34 and 39 with the supplementary numbers of 3 and 4.