Lucky Scots Holidaymaker Touches Down at Edinburgh Airport to be Told: You've Won an £85K Sports Car {{favouriteCount}}

JIM Kilday's post-holiday blues were vanished in seconds when he was handed the keys to a brand new Jaguar R Coupe at Edinburgh Airport after returning from Majorca with his wife and 10-year-old grandson.

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Gordon Jack/scotimage.comJubilant Jim Kilday swigs champagne in front of the new Jaguar R Coupe he won in a competition at Edinburgh AirportJubilant Jim Kilday swigs champagne in front of the new Jaguar R Coupe he won in a competition at Edinburgh Airport

DREAMS came true for one lucky holidaymaker when he touched down at Edinburgh airport yesterday ... and landed himself a shiny £85,000 sports car.

Jim Kilday’s post-holiday blues vanished in seconds when he strolled through the arrivals hall and was handed the keys to a brand new Jaguar R Coupé.

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The 70-year-old – who was just back from Majorca with his wife Dorothy, 69, and their 10-year-old grandson James – had entered a competition to win the motor before jetting out to Spain for a week.

He paid £9 for his ticket and headed off to the sun telling himself: “I’ll never win that.”

His grandson even warned him: “Grandad, don’t bother entering – you’re just wasting your money.” And as he sat behind the wheel of his new car yesterday, Jim, of West Calder, West Lothian, beamed: “I’m stunned, shocked, but over the moon. I never expected to win.

“I’ve been doing these competitions for years. Every time I come to the airport, I enter these competitions – but I never win anything.

“The funny thing is, I had to take part in a spot the football quiz as part of my entry – and I don’t even know anything about football.

“This is some surprise. I feel extremely lucky.”

Ironically, Jim – who runs his own company, Calder Fuels – bought a new Land Rover Discovery just days before his holiday.

He laughed: “We’ve only just bought the Land Rover. The wife can have that now – I’ve got a new Jag.”

Speaking outside the airport, excited grandson James gushed: “I can’t believe it – I just can’t believe it.

“I told Grandad he was being silly buying a ticket for the competition. I told him he was wasting his money. I’m glad he didn’t listen to me.”

The competition was run by London company Best of the Best. Managing director William Hindmarch flew up to the capital yesterday to deliver the good news to Jim.

He initially posed as a taxi driver holding a board emblazoned with the name “Kilday” in the arrivals hall.

Gordon Jack/scotimage.comJim and his grandson James in the new JaguarJim and his grandson James in the new Jaguar
William said: “As soon as we knew Jim was the winner, we went about tracking him down.

“We were delighted when we discovered he was on holiday in Majorca because it meant we could surprise him
on his return.

“It was heart-warming to see Jim’s reaction. He’s clearly delighted and we’re thrilled to hand over the keys.

“I’m just relieved we got the correct Jim Kilday.”

An airport spokesman added: “We are delighted for Jim and we hope he enjoys his new car. We’re all very jealous.”

Back to Homepage 4 Jan 2022