Granny widowed last year wins £4.5m home in dream prize draw
THE last time she was on holiday in Cornwall with her family they all stayed in a caravan.
But now, June Smith has the run of a £4.5million, six-bedroom, three-storey property overlooking the Fowey Estuary after she won the luxury home in a prize draw with a £25 ticket.
The property is said to be the biggest ever given away in a draw in Britain and is mortgage free, with stamp duty and legal fees covered.
Widowed grandmother Mrs Smith, 74, who won the prize plus £100,000 in cash in the latest Omaze Million Pound House Draw, is free to live in the house, rent it out or sell it.
If she decides to rent it, local estate agents estimate it could achieve £5,000 to £7,000 per month from long-term rentals – and up to £14,000 a week from peak season holiday rentals.
She lost her husband of 43 years, Ron, last year from a heart attack at 74 and has lived in her two-bedroom detached house in Essex for the past 17 years. Mrs Smith, who has three children and
‘The views are breathtaking’
six grandchildren, said Ron – who worked as an architectural designer – would have ‘ absolutely loved the design of this house’ and will be ‘looking down with an approving smile’.
She added: ‘We used to come for family holidays in Cornwall and stay in a caravan, but now we own a £4.5million mansion – it’s just unbelievable.
‘The house is truly stunning and the views are simply breathtaking.
‘I’ve got six beautiful grandchildren and have now got plenty of room for all of them to come and stay – we’re going to have the best summer holiday ever.
‘Having spent some time at the house, I’m definitely going to keep it for a while, whatever I decide to do long term it’s a life-changing win for our family.’
The property, which comes with furnishings included, was designed by architects Harrison Sutton.
Among its many highlights is a kitchen and breakfast room with glazed sliding doors on two sides that lead out on to a cantilevered balcony.
The Omaze draw raised £2.1million for Marie Curie.