Memorial service for pools win character Viv Nicholson

Viv rose to fame when she vowed to “spend, spend, spend” after winning more than £152,000 in 1961.

She died on Saturday at the age of 79 after a long battle with dementia.

A memorial service will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Sagar Street, on Friday, May 1 from 2pm.

Her family will gather at the Magnet Hotel, Pontefract Road, after the memorial from 4pm until 6pm and said anyone wishing to pay their respects can attend.

The family has asked for donations in lieu of funeral flowers to be given to Dementia UK.

Click on this link to donate http://www.justgiving.com/remember/180321/Viv-NicholsonViv and her husband Keith, a former miner, took just three years to spend their winnings - the equivalent of £3.5m today.

The couple splashed out on flash cars, jewellery and a new ranch-style home in Garforth.

A huge tax bill swallowed up what was left of the cash and she was declared bankrupt as the taxman took everything.

See this week’s Pontefract and Castleford Express for an exclusive interview with Viv’s son Howard.