Our family scooped amazing £235k – here’s my first thought… and how I’ll splash the cash
A FAMILY who scooped a whopping nearly a quarter of a million pounds in the postcode lottery how revealed how they will splash their cash.
Mum Marylin Boyle, 71, husband John, 64, daughter Joanna, 41, and son Francis, 51, each bagged £58,823 cheques – a total amount of £235,292.
Now, the fab four hope to buy the home they have shared for 37 years In Prestwich, Manchester, but never owned.
Joanna revealed the other three have her to thank for their prizes.
The hotel duty manager was first to sign up for People’s Postcode Lottery before persuading her parents and brother to join in.
It meant they became the first entire household of four to win a top prize with individual subscriptions.
But the family first thought they were being scammed when they were told they had won big.
Mum-of-five Marilyn, a retired chambermaid said: “We were away on a short break in Fleetwood for a few days, it was a Christmas present, and I was just sitting eating a burger when a phone number came up on my phone from Edinburgh.
“I don’t know anyone in Edinburgh so I didn’t answer it.
“They rang back and said we had won but at first we thought it might be a scam. As they phoned, we knew it was something substantial.
“They arranged to come and see us in a week and in all that time I was a nervous wreck.
“The four of us didn’t tell the rest of the family and it was on our mind every day.
“I couldn’t sleep, I was waking up and thinking about it. I was shocked, shaking and nervous.
“When we saw the amount we had won I said: “Oh My God” and I haven’t stopped shaking since.
“When we found out how much we had won I remember thinking – I could really do with a nice cup of tea right now.”
Taxi driver John said: “We never expected to win the Postcode Lottery – it was a really nice surprise.”
“We are going to try to buy our house and live here with our daughter Joanna.”
Dad-of-two Francis has recently moved out.
‘SURREAL’
The family were among 15 neighbours to share in the Millionaire Street prize after their M25 2QL postcode came up trumps.
Every ticket scooped £58,823, but a couple of the players had signed up for two subscriptions, so they doubled their prize money.
Further up the street, neighbours and lucky winners Libby and Ian Cochrane have been married for 51 years and have lived at their address for 20 years.
Libby, 72, said: “I received a call from the postcode lottery and I gave my name and date of birth, then I came off the phone and thought it might have been a scam – so I emailed to make sure.
“When they said they were going to come and see us I knew it must be a good amount. It was like a blooming circus, when they arrived.
“It has just come at the right time, we don’t owe anything and we can just enjoy it. It feels unreal – it’s surreal.”
The retired civil servant also wants to do work on the house and spoil their grandsons.
Classic car fanatic Ian, 84, has his eyes set on a new motor and is trying to persuade Libby to allow him a classic convertible.
The former motorway infrastructure engineer, who has previously owned three classic cars, is hankering after buying himself another.He laughed: “We have always made every decision together, but when I suggested a convertible – it was a ‘no’….I will work on it.”