A mum is over the moon after scooping a massive £144,000 lottery jackpot - just two weeks after cancelling her ticket.
Francesca Griffiths, 35, stopped playing People’s Postcode Lottery at her old address and signed up at a new home she moved to before Christmas.
But her old ticket was still eligible for the January draw – winning her £12,000 every month for a year – a total of £144,000 - as well as a once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience as part of lottery’s brand new ‘An Unforgettable Year’ prize.
Picking up the prize from her old street, Francesca said: “I cancelled my ticket two weeks ago because we had moved to another address, and I signed up again with the new postcode. I was told I would still be in the January draw at my old address, but I never thought anything of it because I didn’t think I’d ever win.
"I’d have been devastated if I’d missed out. But I’m a great believer in if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be”, she added.
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Francesca joined seven others in Cowling, North Yorkshire, after BD22 0HG won Postcode Lottery’s first ‘An Unforgettable Year’ prize. Every ticket was worth £12,000 a month for a year.
The mum will get £12,000 every month for a year (People’s Postcode Lottery)On top of that, each winner and a plus one will choose from a series of unforgettable experiences – in Britain or abroad. These include a seven-day safari to Kenya, a Brazilian rainforest visit and a trip to a national park in Mozambique or South Africa.
Francesca says she plans to use her monthly cash on home renovations, including building a garage for IT technician hubby John, 37. The speech and language therapist said: “This will help with the house we’ve just bought which is a wreck and needs to be done up. We moved in November to get a garden. But it is very dated. We’ve done the electrics and central heating, but we need a new roof, windows and doors.
"My husband wanted a garage, but we discovered the kitchen ceiling was full of asbestos, so we had to pay for that. I’m really happy that he can get a garage now", she added.
But she also has her eye on the ‘unforgettable’ Kenyan safari holiday – and plans to take her beloved mum Hilary Bradley, 69. She said: “We love animals and we’ve wanted to do something like that forever. My mum has always been there for me. Without her, I probably wouldn’t be where I am.I’m a person that, whatever comes, I’m grateful for. Winning with my neighbours is the best experience because you’re not alone. They’re a fab bunch.”
Neighbours across the street, Thomas and Lindsay Roberts, said they had always put off signing up for Postcode Lottery – but are now celebrating their big win just three months after joining.
Her neighbours also have big travel plans (People’s Postcode Lottery)Window cleaner Thomas, 51, said: “Every time a leaflet came through the door, we said we would do it, but we never did. Then I said, ‘the next time a leaflet comes through, we’ll do it there and then. We would have been devastated if the neighbours had won this and we hadn’t, knowing it could have changed our lives too. We’ve only been playing since October, so this is absolutely brilliant”.
The couple plan to replace their Renault Clio with a Peugeot 3008. Thomas said: “First of all we’ll go out and get a better car. I’m too big for a Clio.” But before anything, they will be opening their doors to neighbours for Prosecco and a buffet.
Lindsay said: “We’ll celebrate with all the neighbours. They are always there for us whenever we need them. We’ve told everyone it is an open house. Hopefully they’ll all nip in and out and have Prosecco and nice food, laughing and crying together.”
Across the road, Sarah Emmott has her sights set on laser eye surgery and a longed-for trip to Australia to see her daughter. The GP receptionist, 50, said: “I’m in a bit of shock. I thought it might have been £30,000. I’d like to have laser eye surgery. Glasses are just a nuisance, aren’t they?”
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BD22 0HG won Postcode Lottery’s first ‘An Unforgettable Year’ prize (People’s Postcode Lottery)Sarah and her fiancé, who does not wish to be named, were also planning to tie the knot before going Down Under – and make it their honeymoon. Sarah said: “We always planned to get married just before we went to Australia because my partner said ‘you never know, we might get an upgrade on the plane’. It will be our honeymoon, so it’s a double celebration. He is always joking that we would go to the registry office in Skipton and then across the road to the Morrisons café and then back to work.”
Directly opposite them, Carolyn Zeyrek also plans to travel, and wants to use the cash to treat son Andrew Tierney, 38, and his family.
The semi-retired neuro nurse said: “To get £12,000 a month for a year is mind-blowing. You just can’t imagine it. I feel so pleased for everyone else in the street who have won.
"We’re all friends and it is just fantastic to win together. I’m not very materialistic. I would like to go somewhere different and take my best friend with me. I’d like to go on a really nice cruise. It will be nice to help my son and grandchildren as well.”
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