Islanders share £3m prize
Households across North Uist and Berneray have been celebrating winning thousands of pounds in the Postcode Lottery after receiving cheques on Friday.
Carinish Village Hall was bursting at the seams as 101 islanders collected their prizes.
The winning postcode was HS6 5BJ with two Berneray residents winning £193,055 each.The remaining 99 winners in the sector received cheques ranging from £21,425 to £64,275.
Pamela Macaskill, who won one of the top prizes, was overwhelmed when she was presented with her cheque.
She said: ‘I’m just numb, my mouth is dry. I’m completely speechless. You just don’t believe it will ever happen. I mean that’s massive isn’t it?! My palms have not stopped sweating.
‘The whole place has been buzzing. It’s such a big amount for such a small community. I know pretty much everyone here. It means so much to all of us.’
Pamela and her husband Angus have two girls, Lucy, 14, and Faye, 12, to treat with the winnings.
Pamela continued: ‘I love
Disney so I might take my girls to Florida, but I guess I should go somewhere a bit different with this amount. Maybe Finland, or somewhere hot. It’s my sister’s 40th soon so we can take a girls’ trip away. I don’t know, there are so many options.’
The second winner of the full prize was Sharon MacKillop, a retired teacher, who worked at Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath.
Left speechless on stage when she heard she had won the full prize, the first thing Sharon thought to do was take her husband for dinner, but soon thought of more ideas.
She said: ‘The car probably needs replaced, the outside of the house needs painted, a new mobile for my husband. Maybe a holiday, I’ve never been on a cruise!
‘We all know everyone here.
It’s lovely it’s not isolated. A lot of people in the community have won a substantial sum of money.’
People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador and former X Factor star Danyl Johnson hosted the event and presented cheques to the winners.
He said: ‘It’s certainly been a day to remember in North Uist.
‘We’ve had prizes in big cities and small villages all over the country, but we’ve never been to a place quite like this before.
‘The views here are stunning and everyone has been so friendly. You can really feel the sense of community here.
‘I am thrilled for all our winners and know this prize will not only benefit them, but will have a huge positive impact on everyone on the islands.’
Good causes on the islands will benefit from the Postcode Millions draw as well, with island primary Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath getting funding to plant 420 trees.
Volunteering Hebrides received £19,861 to support people who are housebound as a result of physical or mental health issues.
The project helps people who may otherwise have experienced social isolation to connect with each other.
‘The whole place has been buzzing. It‘s such a big amount for such a small community.’