Latest news with #Scandinavian-style
Daily Record
02-08-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Former Scots taxi driver 'luckiest man in world' after £725k holiday home win in online comp
The 63-year-old was in disbelief when he discovered he won the online prize. A former Glasgow taxi driver has bagged a stunning brand-new £725,000 holiday home after winning a life-changing online competition. William Tombe, 63, was in disbelief when he discovered he won the prize from BOTB. The dad-of-two and grandad-of-two also won a £69,000 Audi RS6. However, William was involved in a serious car accident more than a decade ago, which left him unable to work or drive. He intends to give the car to his daughter – or may choose to take the cash alternative which he plans to put towards a family holiday. Speaking of his prize, William said: 'I'm the luckiest person in the world to be here – the only thing I've got to moan about is I can't drive anymore. 'I obviously dreamt of winning, but you think it's just a pipe dream. This is life-changing. 'The whole day was a blur, and I was running on adrenaline. I thought I had just won the car and when I was told I had won the house I nearly collapsed.' The stunning holiday home is a four-bedroom, Scandinavian-style detached property on the exclusive Silverlake Estate in Dorchester, near the Jurassic Coast. It comes fully furnished with £30,000 worth of designer interiors and offers access to a luxury spa, lakeside views, nature trails and even a boat store. The Audi RS6 is renowned for its roaring V8 engine, precision handling and luxurious interior – a dream car for any motoring enthusiast. William added: 'Travelling down to Dorset and back has been well worth it. I'm now planning a well-earned rest.' He also revealed he's had a bit of luck in previous competitions – having once won a holiday to the Isles of Scilly and an iPhone – but said nothing could compare to this win. Christian said: 'After everything William has been through, it was a real honour to deliver this incredible news to him. 'He was already speechless when we handed over the Audi RS6, but once we revealed the house, you could see how much it meant. Taking him on a plane to see it in person made the moment even more unforgettable. 'Whether William keeps the house and car or takes the cash, this prize will change his and his family's life.' home in a truly special place. It was amazing to see his face when he walked through the doors.' BOTB hands over the keys to a stunning dream car each week, as well as offering lifestyle prizes. Founded in 1999, BOTB has given away £103m-worth of cars so far.
Scottish Sun
01-08-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Ex-taxi driver stunned after scooping £725K holiday home & £69K Audi
The huge home boasts access to a luxury spa, nature trails and a boat store IN THE MONEY Ex-taxi driver stunned after scooping £725K holiday home & £69K Audi Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ex-taxi driver has scooped a £725,000 holiday home and a £69,000 Audi in a 99p prize draw. William Tombe, 63, was left gobsmacked after discovering he had clinched the life-changing win in BOTB's weekly draw. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 William Tombe, 63, from Glasgow bagged the huge win Credit: BOTB The father-of-two was surprised by presenters Christian Williams and Katie Knight outside his Glasgow home where he was handed the keys to a brand new Audi RS6. Shortly after, he was flown down south to Dorset to see his stunning new holiday home. The lakeside property, a four-bedroom detached Scandinavian-style house, is fully furnished with £30,000 worth of interior design. It also boasts access to a luxury spa, nature trails and a boat store. William said: 'I'm the luckiest person in the world to be here – the only thing I've got to moan about is I can't drive anymore. 'I obviously dreamt of winning, but you think it's just a pipe dream. This is life-changing. 'The whole day was a blur, and I was running on adrenaline. I thought I had just won the car and when I was told I had won the house I nearly collapsed.' The former cabby was involved in a car accident that left him unable to drive or work a few years ago so he's decided to gift the brand-new car to his daughter. In previous competitions, William has won smaller prizes, including a trip to the Isles of Scilly and an iPhone but said nothing could compare to this win. Christian Williams said: "After everything William has been through, it was a real honour to deliver this incredible news to him. I became a millionaire overnight after winning huge National Lottery prize but I celebrated with modest Scottish treat "He was already speechless when we handed over the Audi RS6, but once we revealed the house, you could see how much it meant. "Taking him on a plane to see it in person made the moment even more unforgettable. 'Whether William keeps the house and car or takes the cash, this prize will change his and his family's life.' Katie Knight said: "The house is light, bright, and full of beautiful touches – it's a truly special home in a truly special place. "It was amazing to see his face when he walked through the doors."
Glasgow Times
01-08-2025
- Automotive
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow man scoops £725k holiday home and £69k Audi
Father-of-two and grandfather-of-one, William Tombe was left speechless when he found out he had scooped the life-changing win in BOTB's weekly Dream Car Competition. The 63-year-old, from Glasgow, was surprised by presenters Christian Williams and Katie Knight outside his home with the Audi RS6, before flying down to Dorset to see his new holiday home. Read more: Miss World and Miss Scotland visit Glasgow to shine spotlight on this Govan facility The Silverlake Estate property is a four-bedroom, Scandinavian-style detached home, and comes fully furnished with £30,000 worth of designer interiors. It also offers access to a luxury spa, lakeside views, nature trails, and a boat store. He said: "I'm the luckiest person in the world to be here – the only thing I've got to moan about is I can't drive anymore. "I obviously dreamt of winning, but you think it's just a pipe dream. "This is life-changing. "The whole day was a blur, and I was running on adrenaline. "I thought I had just won the car and when I was told I had won the house I nearly collapsed." William, who was left unable to work or drive following a serious car crash more than a decade ago, said he plans to either give the car to his daughter or to take the cash alternative and put it towards a family holiday. He has won smaller prizes in previous competitions, including a holiday to the Isles of Scilly and an iPhone, but said nothing could compare to this win. Christian Williams said: "After everything William has been through, it was a real honour to deliver this incredible news to him. "He was already speechless when we handed over the Audi RS6, but once we revealed the house, you could see how much it meant. "Taking him on a plane to see it in person made the moment even more unforgettable. 'Whether William keeps the house and car or takes the cash, this prize will change his and his family's life.' Read more: Over three quarters of Brits try to 'live like a local' while on holiday abroad Katie Knight said: "The house is light, bright, and full of beautiful touches – it's a truly special home in a truly special place. "It was amazing to see his face when he walked through the doors." To see William's reaction, alongside a host of other lucky winners, visit the BOTB website.
The Hindu
25-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Five new Volvo Airavat Club Class 2.0 buses flagged off
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on Friday launched five new Volvo Airavat Club Class 2.0 luxury buses, further expanding its premium fleet on key intercity routes. Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy flagged off the buses at the KSRTC Central Office in Bengaluru. According to KSRTC, these new-generation buses, a continuation of the 20 buses flagged off by the Chief Minister in December 2024, will operate on the Bengaluru-Tirupati (one bus), Mangaluru-Bengaluru (two buses), and Mysuru-Mantralaya (two buses) routes. 'Equipped with Scandinavian-style exteriors and plush new interiors, the 15-metre-long buses offer 51 comfortable seats, improved headroom, 20% more luggage space, and advanced safety features such as fire alarm systems with water sprinklers and rear fog lights. Additional highlights include USB and C-type charging ports, improved air-conditioning, better fuel efficiency, and enhanced driver visibility,' a release said. Mr. Reddy also launched welfare initiatives for the employees' families. Appointment orders were issued to 45 candidates for KST constable posts under compassionate grounds, a process that had been stalled for nearly a decade. Since its resumption last year, 271 such appointments have been made across KSRTC, Mr. Reddy stated. A compensation of ₹1 crore was handed over to the family of an employee who died in an accident. An additional ₹2.6 crore was distributed to families of 26 employees who passed away due to illness, under the Employee Family Welfare Relief Scheme. The Minister advised families to use the compensation wisely, particularly for children's education and essential needs.
Business News Wales
23-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Sauna Venture Thrives with Business Wales Support
Business Wales case studyHikitalo Sauna – William Jenkins WALES NEWS SERVICE A Welsh-born entrepreneur, raised in the Netherlands, has turned to Business Wales to help bring the restorative power of Scandinavian-style saunas to the shores of Porthcawl and Rest Bay. William Jenkins launched Hikitalo Sauna in November 2024, bringing a Finnish-inspired wellness retreat to Sandy Bay. The sustainable, custom-built facility was made possible through expert guidance and financial support from Business Wales. Within a year, Hikitalo's popularity has seen it awarded 'Best Waterside Sauna 2025' at the British Sauna Society's Sauna Summit and launch a second location employing seven people in Rest Bay. William's passion for sauna culture began after a demanding career in the fintech industry took a toll on his mental health. The entrepreneur turned to holistic wellbeing practices, finding solace in sauna and heat therapy. Inspired by his transformative experience and the realisation that running his own business would benefit his own mental health, William returned to Wales with a vision to create a company centred on wellness and connection to nature. Recognising the challenges of launching a start up, William approached Business Wales for advice on securing funding and developing his venture. With expert guidance from Business Adviser, Victoria Owens, William was able to navigate the support landscape and explore funding opportunities. Her advice helped him secure a loan from the Development Bank of Wales to invest in a custom-built sauna facility powered by solar lighting and fuelled by locally sourced firewood. As a result, Hikitalo Sauna was able to begin providing both private and communal sessions, allowing visitors to experience the therapeutic interplay of heat and cold exposure, promoting relaxation and wellbeing. William is no stranger to launching his own ventures, having previously appeared on Dragon's Den with an earlier business idea. Reflecting on Business Wales' pivotal role in bringing Hikitalo Sauna to life, William said: 'Business Wales has been a crucial partner in helping me navigate the early stages of setting up my business. From providing access to funding options, to helping me focus on sustainability with green energy and sourcing, their support has been exceptional. 'I've always been entrepreneurial, and after seeing the incredible benefits saunas had on my mental and physical well-being, I knew I wanted to share that with others. I'm extremely grateful to Victoria for helping me to make Hikitalo a reality. This isn't just about creating a place to relax; it's about building community and offering people a space where they can come together, disconnect from the stress of daily life, and focus on their well-being.' To reinforce his commitment to sustainability, William received support from Victoria, enabling him to adopt Business Wales' Green Growth and Equality pledges, ensuring that Hikitalo Sauna's practices and growth align with environmental best practices. Business Wales also provided essential training and a webinar on business development, equipping William with the skills necessary to scale his enterprise effectively. With continued support from Business Wales, William plans to pursue further expansion across Wales to make Nordic wellness traditions more widely accessible, strengthening community wellbeing. Business Wales Business Adviser, Victoria Owen, said: 'Having gone through his own struggles, William's passion for starting up this kind of business shone through from the first time we spoke He has the monopoly on something very niche that is becoming more and more prominent within Wales and I am delighted to see his passion paying off. It was a pleasure to be able to support him on his journey as he works to encourage a healthier lifestyle and to provide community and support to others.' Business Wales is funded by Welsh Government. For more information and support to help your business discover opportunities, and to speak to a specialist advisor, contact Business Wales. Visit or call 03000 6 03000. Rydym yn croesawu galwadau'n Gymraeg – we welcome calls in Welsh.
