Africa-Press – Seychelles. Six TS neighbours win ‘surreal’ £1m as plans for ‘life-changing’ cash include Seychelles jaunt.
The householders in Maple Avenue, Thornaby, saw their postcode TS17 8NG scoop the Millionaire Street top prize. Five of the householders with a ticket won a £142,857 share and one of the winners had two tickets so scooped £285,714.
Among the winners was Debbie Gittins, who had only recently rejoined People’s Postcode Lottery. The council worker said: “It’s surreal. This doesn’t happen to people like us, we go to work every day, we get by, but this is gonna change our lives. It takes the pressure off real life, the daily grind, this will lighten that load and make life sweeter.”Husband Gary, who works for the local council Tarmacing highways, added: “We’re both back to work tomorrow but with a big smile on our faces.”
The windfall tops off an incredible nine months for Debbie and her husband Gary Gittins, which saw the arrival of their first grandchild and both celebrating turning 50. Now the couple are looking to buy a new house, and they’ll also take a special holiday to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary next year.
Debbie played Postcode Lottery for a few years before cancelling her subscription in March 2022. Then, in June last year her street won the daily prize which would have netted her £1,000. It was her son, Coby Gittins, 28, who her to rejoin the lottery to make sure she didn’t miss out on another big win.Middlesbrough fan Coby cheekily grinned when he was credited with Debbie’s windfall. He said: “It’s amazing. Maybe, I’ll get me a new season ticket.”
Gary, also a big Boro supporter, added: “The weekend could get even better if Middlesbrough make the play-offs.”Debbie and Gary both admitted they didn’t think the year could get any better after they welcomed their first grandchild, Ernie. Debbie said: “When we found out our daughter was pregnant, we said, ‘this is better than winning the lottery’, but now we’ve actually got the grandbaby and the lottery!”The couple, who have two sons and two daughters, plan to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary next year with a luxury holiday, possible the Seychelles. And, they will also help their family out.
Another winner in the street, Christine Fraser, 58, is also celebrating a cheque for £142,857. She called her winning sum ‘life-changing’ and told how it might take her and husband Keith Fraser, 72, on a dream cruise all the way to the river Nile in Africa.
She said: “We went on a cruise to the Canary Islands last year for our 25th anniversary, and I think we can go somewhere nicer now. It’s life-changing. Keith has always wanted to go round Egypt to see the Valley of the Kings, so maybe a cruise down the Nile.”
Before looking into the once-in-a-lifetime trip, Christine is set on purchasing a garden fence. The gran-of-three said: “I want a fence, that’s what I’ll buy first.”
It’s another windfall for Christine as she won £1,000 last June, but always believed an even bigger prize could be around the corner. She said: “After I won £1,000 and a couple of vouchers, I thought I must be due a big one. I was chuffed to bits when I won the £1,000, and you can probably imagine how I’m feeling with this.”
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