£3 million prize for Chester players
04 November 2019
Share this story
It was celebrations in Chester on Saturday 2nd November, as 457 people in the CH2 1 postcode sector won a share of £3 million with People’s Postcode Lottery’s monthly Postcode Millions prize.
The biggest prizes of the day were won by the eight people playing with the full winning postcode, CH2 1LT.
Seven Endsleigh Gardens neighbours pocketed £150,000 each, while the eighth tripled his cash prize to £450,000, thanks to playing with three tickets.
Married life is starting on a high for newlyweds Georgia and Chris McCaffrey, who were among the lucky winners. The 29-year-old mortgage broker and 30-year-old Royal Mail worker scooped £150,000, just six weeks after tying the knot.
Georgia said: “I can’t believe it, I’m speechless and never usually lost for words. My heart was beating so fast when I saw the cheque and all the zeros. After the wedding we had planned to start saving again and now this - It’s more than either of us could ever have imagined.
“We had a dream wedding and now we can have an amazing honeymoon. We’re thinking of the Maldives or Bermuda - wherever we end up, this win will have made it even more special."
The good news for the happy couple was described as a “double whammy” by husband Chris, who has just been promoted to a management position at Royal Mail this week. He said: “I think we’re both in shock, it’s turned into a memorable week for us and we have lots to celebrate this weekend.”
Colin, a retired electrician, was joined by his wife of 45 years Linda, a 65-year-old retired catering manager, when he received his cheque.
Linda commented: “Oh my giddy aunt – my knees are shaking! I have arthritis and I’m going in to have surgery on Wednesday so it’s nice to get some good news and for once my shoulder doesn’t hurt because I’m just so excited!”
With three kids and six grandchildren, Colin and Linda know the first thing they’ll do with the windfall.
Colin said: “We’re going to go on a big family holiday to America and take all the grandkids to Florida. Being retired and on a limited income it just gives us that peace of mind. Linda has even joked she might get someone to cater the Christmas dinner now!”
Picking up the biggest prize of the day for £450,000 was retired business owner Keith Higgins.
The 73-year-old said: “Wow – I think I need a lie down now! I’ve only lived on this street for 13 months so this is a great way to get better acquainted with some of the neighbours I had yet to meet.”
Keith, who has three children and four grandchildren, says the win will go a long way to helping others and plans to donate some of his win to a local hospice.
He added: “I support Hospice of the Good Shepherd which is just along the road, so I’d like to give something to them. It’ll also be nice to support the family too.”
The remaining 449 players in the CH2 1 sector sharing the rest of the money, their prizes varied from £2,994 all the way up to £11,976, depending on the number of tickets they played with.
People’s Postcode Lottery ambassadors Judie McCourt and Danyl Johnson were in Chester meeting some of the winners.
Judie said: “We’ve certainly given our players in Chester something to celebrate this weekend! It’s always fantastic to see neighbours sharing the joy of winning together and today has been no exception to that.”
With a minimum of 32% of every ticket going to charities and good causes, players have raised more than £486 million for thousands of charities and good causes since 2005.