A Llanharry NHS worker of 34 years is one of six neighbours who are celebrating after winning £270,000 with People’s Postcode Lottery.
The cash windfall comes after the Welsh postcode CF72 9NJ was announced as a winner with the lottery on Saturday 5th March. Three of the neighbours living on the winning street of Heol Yr Onnen won £30,000 each. Three more neighbours doubled their winnings to £60,000 by playing with two tickets.
Vanessa Townsend (54) scooped £30,000 just before her planned retirement from her occupational therapy job with the NHS Swansea Bay health board later this year.
When People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Matt Johnson revealed the cheque to Vanessa, she said: “Thank you so much. That is lovely!”
The grandmother-of-three is a budding gardener who organised her garden especially for Matt arriving. As she waved her cheque in the air and kissed it she said: “I’ve got my olive trees, hibiscus tree, azalea tree and now my money tree!”
She went on to mention her retirement: “I’m retiring from the NHS in August.”
After pausing for an applause from her friends and surrounding neighbours, Vanessa went on to say: “I’ve been an occupational therapist for just short of 34 years when I retire. So, this is going to go in our pension pot.”
Vanessa’s husband Andrew joined his wife for the cheque presentation. Among other work, Andrew took early retirement after 20 years of work with the police force in London.
The cheque reveal and atmosphere reminded Vanessa and Andrew of their wedding day, Vanessa said: “When we got married, we actually stood out here and had our wedding photos taken out here.
“It was a lovely sunny day like this!”
“It’s like standing outside of the house with all the important things in your life. It’s amazing.
Morag Farley (60) was full of nerves when she was waiting for ambassador Matt Johnson to reveal her cheque to her she said: “It’s quite astonishing… I’m trying to remember to breathe.”
When the wait ended and the £60,000 cheque, for Morag’s two tickets, was revealed she said:
“That’s fantastic! I never win anything. It’s really hard to explain how I feel. I’m over the moon.”
When asked how Morag would spend the money, she spoke to her passion for photography and rock music. She said: “I take photos. I’ve just spent the weekend taking photos of rock bands. It’s been an amazing weekend.
“I get lens envy, I’m off to the camera shop now to buy new lenses for my camera.”
Morag was thrilled to hear that some of her neighbours had won too. She said: “It’s great, we might just have a street party.
“We may have a bottle of prosecco in the fridge. We might just have Prosecco o’clock!”Winner Gareth Lambert (42) and his wife Clare were anxious to learn what they’d won at first but were thrilled when their £60,000 cheque was revealed to them.
Gareth, a fire safety sales representative, said: “It means a holiday. We can do a bit of work around the house. So it’ll go a long way.
When asked where they would like to go on holiday, Clare was quick to say: “Definitely on a plane! We’ve not been on a plane in a while.”
Gareth went on to say that the holiday would be a family trip and that they would take their two children with them as well.
The couple also mentioned that the People’s Postcode Lottery song has been at the forefront of their mind in the lead up to the reveal.
Clare said: “We’ve been singing it to each other. Ever since we took the call – we’ve been singing it a lot.”
Gareth added: “I went out cycling yesterday and I was whistling it!”
Nick Grandfield (62) and his partner Suzanne were the third double ticket winners scooping up an amazing £60,000.
Nick said: “It’s one big surprise. A nice big golden envelope with a nice big figure in it. Not expected but very welcome.”
“We’ve played for a while on our other house. We moved over here in December. So, in January I thought why not play with a ticket on this house as well.”
Nick and Suzanne have had their fair share of luck. The postcode of the pair’s previous home, which they still play with, was a sector winner in the 2015. The prize netted the couple £4,518.
The other winners chose to remain anonymous.
People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Matt Johnson presented the winners with their cheques and shared his congratulations, he said: “We’ve had a wonderful day in Llanharry, there’s been a plethora of beautiful winners.
“A big congratulations to all those who have picked up a prize today. I hope the win will help lift their spirits and they treat themselves to something special with the cash.”
People’s Postcode Lottery costs £10 a month to play and there are guaranteed winners every day. People play with their chosen postcode and are automatically entered into all draws.
Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have helped raise over £850 million to date for thousands of good causes across Britain and internationally.
This draw was promoted on behalf of Postcode Education Trust. Through regular grant funding, the trust supports charities and good causes whose purpose is to provide education particularly in emergency situations. Funded charities include Theirworld, Save the Children and War Child.
