Generous lottery winner Mick Maplesden dies aged 66
Tributes have flooded in for a 'caring and loving bloke' who spent his lottery winnings helping others.
Mick Maplesden, of St Helen's Road, died early on Tuesday morning, aged 66 after being ill for several weeks.
The millionaire, who won the lottery in 1997, had been diagnosed with lung cancer several weeks ago and died of suspected pneumonia.
Mr Maplesden was well-known throughout town as someone who always gave his time to help various charities.
His son Anthony said: "My dad was a great big, caring and loving bloke who would do anything for anybody. He was so kind-hearted.
"You could always rely on him and he kept the family running.
"When he was in hospital 12 years ago, he was told he might lose his legs. But he came out from surgery smiling and saying, 'I told you so' as he assured us that he wouldn't lose them.
"My dad was also very grateful to my best friend Matt Crouch, who was effectively another son to him, as he has always been here for the family."
His best friend, David Potter, who knew Mr Maplesden since they were both five years old, said: "To describe Mick as a larger than life character would be an understatement.
"The amount of charity work he did in Hastings was absolutely enormous. There were so many charities and individuals he helped, such as St Michael's Hospice, and professional golfer Ben Evans."
Mr Potter and Mr Maplesden both went to St Paul's School and The Grove.
The self-employed builder and his wife Doreen won more than 4million in the lottery in 1997.
When Mr Maplesden bought his winning lottery ticket, he had spent 81 days in hospital with diseased arteries, and things were not looking good financially.
But it was his ill health that led to him buying the ticket, because his doctor had told him to take regular walks.
He bought the life-changing ticket one morning as he went to buy his paper at the newsagent's.
Three days later he and Doreen were 4,060,995 richer.
Mr Maplesden and his family travelled the world, attended glamorous parties, moved house twice and bought and sold Hastings United Football Club.
He also made sure his family were never short of money, treating everyone to a share of the lottery winnings.
Mr Maplesden also helped those less fortunate, one of whom was disabled Hollington resident Sharon Soan, paralysed from the neck down.
He led the fund-raising effort in 2006 to help her raise 20,000 in order to undergo ground-breaking surgery to help restore movement to her body.
Mr Maplesden also paid for her garden to be revamped and when she had to move to a bungalow, built her a conservatory.
The lottery winner was a lifelong president of Hastings United Football Club and a former chairman.
He was instrumental in hauling United out of administration in 1999.
Mr Maplesden and his two friends Charlie Pilbeam and Les Britton also built the club's present clubhouse.
Current Hastings United chairman David Walters said: "I bought the club from him in 2004 and on the few dealings I had with him he was very pleasant and a nice guy, who was still keen on the football club.
"He sponsored a couple of matches this season. It was quite a shock for me to find out he had died."
The millionaire was also a big fan of snooker and spent time as a professional snooker coach.
He knew snooker legend Dennis Taylor for more than 30 years.
Mr Taylor, who is noted for his 1985 Embassy World Championship victory, paid tribute to Mr Maplesden this week.
He said: "Mick will be sadly missed among the snooker world. We had a lot of fun together and we go back 30 years. He loved the game and would always come to the big tournaments such as the Masters."
Mr Maplesden sponsored St Leonards professional snooker player Mark Davis, who won the Benson and Hedges Championship in 2002, for several years.
Mr Davis said: "Mick helped me out a lot and never took a penny back.
"He genuinely wanted me to do well. Mick was a nice guy and I appreciate all of his help over the years. We have always been friends and kept in touch and he came to snooker tournaments whenever he could.
"I only spoke to him a few weeks ago before I played in the world championships and he wished me all the best.
"It was very upsetting and a big shock to hear of his death. I can't speak highly enough of the guy.
"He was a funny man and we had some good laughs together."
Hastings MP Michael Foster paid tribute to Mr Maplesden, saying he was 'very much a Hastings person'.
He said: "My son and his son Anthony were great mates over many years.
"What impressed me the most about him was that he stayed with Hastings and had confidence in the town.
"His lottery success did not change him one little bit and he remained a modest and friendly guy."
A spokesman for lottery organisers Camelot said: "Our thoughts are with Doreen and the rest of Mick's family at this very sad time.
"Mick was an amazing character and exceptionally generous person working tirelessly for countless charities and causes who all benefited greatly from his warmth and support. He will be greatly missed by all of the many winners and Camelot staff who knew him."
Mr Maplesden is survived by his wife Doreen, their four children, Debbie, 47, Tracy, 44, Tina, 42, and Anthony, 36, 16 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, his brother Peter, sister Doreen Swain and sister-in-law Marion Maplesden.
His funeral will be held at Hastings Crematorium on Thursday (April 30).
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