I won £83k People’s Postcode Lottery jackpot but was CONVINCED it was a scam… we almost ignored the call
A LUCKY couple who scooped up a whopping £83,000 in the People's Postcode Lottery revealed that they almost ignored the call after they were convinced it was a scam.
Alan and Muriel Owen said they were sceptical about winning the jackpot until their neighbours confirmed that they had indeed won the life-changing sum.
They were one of 11 winners on a street in Nantymeol, Ogmore Vale, to bag an eye-watering £83,333 each.
Muriel said: "I couldn't believe it, I thought it was a scam at first, and then I said to [Alan] somebody was playing a sick joke on us."
Fortunately, the phone call which confirmed their win was real, and now the couple look forward to splashing their newfound wealth.
Alan and Muriel wasted no time and had already booked a trip to Turkey to celebrate.
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The lucky pair added that it was "amazing" to share the win with the other residents, describing them as "lovely valleys people".
Most of the winners in Nantymeol came together to celebrate at the local village pub, with owner Helen Smith describing the news as "fantastic".
She told the BBC: "It was a lovely atmosphere here, we put on free prosecco for everybody to help them celebrate," she said.
"It's nice to see lovely people winning money."
It comes after a great gran who won £166,666 says her husband will have to write a "begging letter" if he wants to see a single penny of it.
Gill English landed the cash on People's Postcode Lottery in Rugby, Warwickshire - and is now planning a slap-up carvery dinner for her big family.
The retired carer also said she is prepared to buy her hubby a new pair of shoes - but only once she sees his "begging letter".
Gill said: "Oh my God! Flippin' heck! I'll take the family to a carvery. I also said I'd buy Kev a new pair of shoes.
"He'll have the begging letter written!"
Retired chauffeur Kev laughed: "I've already written the begging letter."
The couple are both recovering from cancer.
Kev had melanoma and Gill is still receiving treatment after having part of her right lung removed.
But Gill said they are more interested in helping family - including her three sons, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren than treating themselves.
She said: "I love buying presents and love doing things for people. It's lovely when you feel you have done something for somebody.
"I love giving. I get great joy out of it. If you've got money, you've got it. If you haven't, you haven't.
"I'm not money-motivated, but I am now! This is so lovely. Thank you."
Gill also revealed she hadn't told her hubby that she played Postcode Lottery until she got the call to say she'd won.
She said: "Kev didn't know I even played; I don't tell him everything. I hadn't told anyone except my youngest son.
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"I'll never get any sleep now just working it all out."
Kev said: "It wasn't a secret, she just never told me."
How to enter the People's Postcode Lottery
- The Postcode Lottery is a subscription-based lottery in which players sign up with their postcode.
- Your postcode is your ticket number - 40p a day ensures entry into all drawers, or £12 a month.
- Once subscribed, they are automatically entered into every draw.
- Prizes are announced every day of the month.
- If your postcode gets luck, every player in your postcode wins.
- 33 per cent of the ticket price will go to charity that is re-funnelled back into the community.