LOTTO WINDFALL
I won £250k on People’s Postcode Lottery… I’m 73 & a gran-of-10 but went straight back to work
Evelyn plans to splash the cash on a very special holiday with her family
A LUCKY gran who won £250,000 on People's Postcode Lottery has told she still won't give up her job.
Evelyn Evans, from Alcester in Warwickshire, bagged the lion's share of a £1million pot thanks to her life-changing double tickets.
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Evelyn, 73, was one of three lucky neighbours to hit the jackpot when their postcode was drawn for the People's postcode Lottery's weekly Millionaire Street on April 20.
While most winners dream of retirement and endless sun-kissed holidays, she had other plans.
The winner is gearing up to treat her entire family to a holiday and tick off some items from her bucket list.
The stunned punter said: “It’s just mind-blowing! To think your postcode does actually come up when you least expect it. It’s been absolutely unforgettable. I’ve never ever thought I’d win such a big amount.”
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But she is not expected to hang up her hat at work anytime soon.
Despite the windfall, she's staying put in her role as a Military Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) specialist, sourcing spare parts for military helicopters.
The dedicated worker said: "I love what I do. I’ve always worked, they’ll be carrying me off in a box and I’ll still be typing on the computer, ringing a customer, or sending an email."
When she got the life-changing call from a lottery agent she was so shocked the winner forgot to ask how much she had won.
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She laughed: "I didn’t even ask how much I’d won when the Postcode Lottery phoned to say they were coming to my door and that I’d won a prize. My son scolded me for not asking!"
Her son Craig was overjoyed as he witnessed his mum receiving an eye-watering cheque for £250,000.
I almost lost out on £400k People's Postcode Lottery win after bizarre reaction to the call... I was too busy to chat
He is now trying to convince his mum to upgrade her aged TV.
While Evelyn insists her trusty TV still works fine, she's open to the idea of a new one.
She said: "My TV works perfectly fine but yes, I guess I could get a new telly."
Evelyn is also planning an epic family getaway including her ten grandchildren.
She added: "I’ll take all the family away on holiday and I’m going to let them decide where we go.
"With eight grandchildren and two honorary grandchildren, it’ll be quite the family affair. I’ll just take them all-inclusive, and they can do what they want."
She has her sights set on the breathtaking Norwegian Fjords for a Northern Lights experience next year.
Evelyn explained: "I think my friend and I could go to the Norwegian Fjords next year. It would be something else to see the Northern Lights, that’s on my bucket list – so I’ll tick that one off."
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It comes as a lotto jackpot winner scooped a jaw-dropping £100,000 - and so did ALL her neighbours thanks to a £12 raffle.
Anne, from Heald Green, Greater Manchester, believes she lives on the luckiest street in the UK after landing the life-changing windfall.
UK's biggest lottery winners
- Anonymous winner - £195,707,000
A UK ticket-holder scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195 million on July 19 2022 – the biggest National Lottery win of all time.
The holder, who remains anonymous to this day, amassed the fortune with just one lucky ticket.
- Joe and Jess Thwaite - £184,262,899.10
Britain's previous EuroMillions record holders were Joe and Jess Thwaite.
The couple won a record-breaking £184million jackpot in May 2022 and shared hopes of a Hawaiian holiday and a new horse box for their children's ponies.
Joe bought his winning ticket online on May 10, 2022, and the following morning received an email with good news.
As he learnt of the huge win, he was in disbelief and initially kept it for himself as he did not want to disturb his wife, who was sleeping.
Joe, a communications sales engineer, and Jess, who runs a hairdressing salon with her sister, have been married for 11 years and have two children.
- Colin and Chris Weir, £161,653,000
Colin and Christine Weir landed the colossal prize money in 2011 and were Europe’s second-biggest winners until someone in Italy won a jackpot worth £193m in 2019.
They splashed the cash at an astounding rate of £100,000 a week before tragedy struck.
But at the time of Colin’s death in December 2019, his share of the prize money had dwindled by around £40m.
He spent millions living a life of luxury, forking out for sports cars, property and the football club he supported.
Colin and Christine divorced shortly before his death after being married for 38 years.
He left money for their children Carly and Jamie.
- Adrian and Gillian Brayford - £148,600,000
Adrian and Gillian won 190 million euros in a EuroMillions draw in August 2012, which came to just over £148 million.
But Adrian split from Gillian the following year because of the stress of the win.
The couple bought a Grade II listed estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with a cinema and billiards room, but it was sold in 2021.
After divorcing in 2013, he failed to woo ex-sausage factory worker Marta Jarosz — but fell for stable girl Sam Burbidge.
She left him in 2017, taking 30 prize horses Adrian bought.
It might have worked out in the end for Adrian though as the former postman was seen smiling with ambulance worker Tracey Biles last year.
- Frances and Patrick Connolly - £114,969,775
Former social worker and teacher Frances set up two charitable foundations after she and her husband hit the jackpot.
They scooped almost £115 million on New Year’s Day 2019.
She estimates that she has already given away £60 million to charitable causes, as well as friends and family.
- Richard and Debbie Nuttall - £61,000,000
The couple from Colne, Lancashire, took home £61 million on January 30 2024.
Both 54, they were enjoying a holiday in Fuerteventura, celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.
But they then discovered the big EuroMillions win.
Richard revealed they originally thought they had won £2.60, but then received another email telling the pair to check their account.
Other eye-watering anonymous winners:
- 2019 - £123million
Another anonymous winner scooped up a prize of £123,458,008 in the June Superdraw rollover.
- 2021 - £122million
Following nine rollovers, one ticketholder bagged the £122,550,350 jackpot last April.
The successful participant chose to remain anonymous.
- 2018 - £121million
Another anonymous winner found their fortune during the Superdraw jackpot rollover in April 2018, securing £121,328,187.
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