A FORGETFUL lottery winner has revealed how he won £111,000 after being told he was too late to enter.
Retired trading standards officer Geoffrey, from Bottesford, Nottinghamshire, was urged by his granddaughter Holly to play the People's Postcode Lottery after she won a few £10 prizes.
He kept forgetting to enter, but eventually signed up after Holly, a teacher, reminded him once again.
Geoffrey was told he was too late for the April draw, but he could take part in the one for May.
He did so, and less than four weeks later bagged £111,111 in his first ever draw.
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Geoffrey said: "Our granddaughter who lives in London said she had joined the Postcode Lottery and kept winning.
"She said, 'you've got to do it, Granddad'. I said, 'alright then', but I didn't do it.
"The next time I spoke to her, she asked if I'd done it. I said 'no', and she said, 'do it now'.
"I phoned up and it was so simple. The person said I was too late for the April draw, but it would be available to take part in the May draw.
"This is the actual May draw and I've won! Oh my God! I can't believe it - £12 in exchange for today's prize is just unbelievable."
He added: "The last thing we won was a 12-inch black and white portable television in the seventies."
Geoffrey landed the formidable prize along with eight neighbours after postcode NG13 0ED won the Millionaire Street prize on May 25.
Every ticket was worth £111,111.
It is the second £1million prize for the Nottinghamshire area after 11 neighbours in Newthorpe, just 29 miles away, won Millionaire Street the previous week.
Geoffrey and wife Jenny have two children, four grandchildren and a great grandchild on the way.
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They now plan to help their family and treat themselves.
Nottingham Forest fan Geoffrey said. "Firstly we'll help the family.
"We might look at a new car, the garage roof needs sorted and I'd like some block-paving at the front of the house."
Jenny added: "This never happens to us. I'd love to stay at the Headland Hotel in Cornwall."
Diagonally opposite, best friends and nextdoor neighbours Olga and Linda hugged each other as they celebrated their win.
Olga said Linda had persuaded her to sign up for the lottery again after she cancelled last year.
The grandmother said: "This is so lovely. I must calm down.
"Linda and I are best friends. We go out together, have lunch together and have been on holiday together.
"Linda played and asked if I was playing. I used to play and stopped, so I said 'ok then, I'll start playing again'.
"I'm so grateful, and I'll enjoy spending it."
Polish-born Olga, supported by husband Frank, said they will build a new extension on their home and treat their sports coach son Paul, and grandchildren.
Olga said: "I want to finish my new extension. Then I'll be taking my beautiful granddaughter on holiday after she finishes her GCSEs.
"We'll be going to Benidorm because we love Benidorm.
"And if my son is OK with it, I might give him a little bit."
Mum-of-three Linda snuggled into husband Bill after being presented with her cheque and said: "Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!
"I don't know whether I'm dreaming. We sit there and see it on the TV and think 'if only'.
"We've won the odd £10, but never dreamed we would win more. What an amazing amount of money.
"I joined because it was on the television and it was for a lot of good causes. And it's a nice feeling that you're doing something to help."
Linda and Bill say they will put the money in the bank until they 'calm down' - but they might visit their two sons and grandchildren in Miami, Florida.
Linda, whose daughter tragically passed away three years ago, said: "This is going in the bank for starters and I need to calm down.
"I feel as high as a kite. When I come down to earth that's when I'll decide what we're going to do with the money.
"My eldest son takes us on cruises to places like Haiti and Alaska.
"It would be nice to pay for something for him for a change, but he'd never accept it."
When Linda later popped nextdoor for a celebratory gin with pal Olga, she added: "Having a friend like Olga is like winning the Postcode Lottery in itself.
"She is a good friend. It is really nice that we have both won it together."
The neighbours each said they are passionate about supporting charities.
Their combined win has meant a welcome boost for one local organisation.
Nottingham-based charity Belvoir Cricket & Countryside Trust, a Nottingham-based charity, was awarded £35,000 by Postcode Community Trust.
Founded in 2009, the charity’s objective is to inspire children across the region to lead healthy, active lives through sport and countryside education.
Last year alone, the charity surpassed its largest annual total to date, reaching 4,273 children and working with 58 mainstream primary and special educational needs schools.
