Postcode party time
WINNERS CELEBRATE A SHARE IN £3 MILLION WIN
WHAT would you do with a share of £3 million?
People living outside London frequently joke with those of us living here that we must be millionaires to afford it, so sometimes we dream of a lottery win just to shut them up (and, yes, pay the expensive rent/mortgage), but in Uxbridge hundreds of residents have seen their daydreams turn into cold, hard cash.
One lucky winner scooped a £675,594 jackpot in the People’s Postcode Lottery because they were playing with two tickets.
Two other locals, living in the postcode area UB8 2, also landed the top prize – with one ticket each, they both got £337, 797.
In total, 316 residents receiving cheques ranging from £4,407 to £26,442 and they celebrated in eclectic fashion, with both man’s best friends (dogs, of course) and a Love Island star.
One of those wondering how to spend more than £300,000 is ex-RAF serviceman Ian Milne.
The 69-year-old pensioner movingly spoke of how the win would transform his life while celebrating alongside other winners at the Dogs Trust, in Harefield.
Ian said he was “shocked” and “really choked up” when he realised he had won.
He added: “I’m retired and when you are on a pension you live month to month budgeting what you have. “I don’t need to budget now. “I’m going to pay for a holiday for myself and my friend and maybe buy a new car.”
The People’s Postcode Lottery says it donates 32% of each £10 ticket to charities like the Dogs Trust, where Ian also helps as a volunteer dog walker.
Ian would never have got involved if it was not for the fact the lottery helps good causes, he said.
He said: “I started playing three years ago, mainly to help charity.
“I would say if you want to do something good for others, sign up to play the People’s Postcode Lottery.”
Like Ian, Ruth Melody was surprised at winning £337,797 but delighted to be able to treat her children and grandchildren.
The 71-year-old said: “I am so shocked, I can’t stop shaking. I’ve never won a penny in my life. This is just amazing.
“I’ve got four children and 11 grandchildren, so I’m delighted to be able to help them all out a bit.
“They’re all wide apart in ages, so it’ll be everything from toys and driving lessons, to helping them with getting through uni.
“I always support charity and will definitely donate a bit as well. I love dogs and it’s so special that I’ve won here at Dogs Trust.
“If I move house thanks to the win, I might even be able to rehome one of them myself.”
Jacqui Farmer works in a care home and celebrated landing a cheque for £8,814.
She said: “I have two young grandchildren and another on the way, so I think I will be treating them all with a holiday to Spain.”
Nikki Hill, 48, pocketed £4,407. Nikki works in education for the NHS and will be sharing her prize with her partner Tony and her sons Aaron, 22, and Cameron, 17.
She said: “I’m really excited and thrilled because I would have been happy with £1,000.
“I have had three dogs myself from the Dogs Trust so it is great to be here to celebrate.”
The winners celebrated alongside some of the canine residents of the Dogs Trust centre in Harefield.
A guard of honour at the centre welcomed the lucky lottery entrants.
Let’s not forget also that Eyal Booker, of Love Island, was there joining the party.
He said on stage as the winners received their cheques that every People’s Postcode Lottery player was making a difference to dogs in need of care.
He added: “Dogs Trust never put a healthy dog down, that is why funding from People’s Postcode Lottery is so important so they can keep up the great work.”
Richard Moore, the rehoming centre manager in West London, said the Dogs Trust was incredibly grateful.
Even Boris Johnson, MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip and former London mayor, said he was ‘delighted’ to hear of the lottery win and its contribution to charities.
He also described the win for the Uxbridge postcode as a ‘fantastic boost’ to the local community.
Judie McCourt, one of the People’s Postcode Lottery ambassadors presenting cheques at the event, suggested she may even adopt a dog after the touching gathering at the weekend, but she stopped short of saying she definitely would.
She said: “Not only have we handed out some incredible cheques to our lucky winners, we also got to celebrate with the Dogs Trust.
“I’ve been thinking about rehoming a dog for a while and it is so hard not to adopt a dog on the spot today.”
■ Players in the People’s Postcode Lottery pay £10 per month to take part.
Players are automatically entered into every draw and prizes are announced every day of the month. Thirty-two per cent of the ticket price goes to charities.