A former pub landlord who kept entering the Postcode Lottery after moving is among a group celebrating a win of £166,666.
And John Keogh was delighted when current landlady at the Five Bells in Tydd St Mary also collected.
John (67) sold the pub to Sharon Allard five years ago and checked he was OK to keep his entry into the monthly draw.
Sharon and her family were on holiday in France when the news came through.
“It’s all good . . . everyone is a winner. I’m glad that everyone is getting something, it’s brilliant,” she said on a FaceTime call (pictured above).
Her husband Tony (64), who co-owns the pub, said the win was ‘very, very nice.’
Dad-of-two John ran the pub for around 16 years before moving.
The couple shared £1m with four other villagers in the Millionaire Street Prize and every ticket was worth £166,666. They polished off a bottle of bubbly when they took the call from their daughter Rebecca and lottery ambassador Judie McCourt to tell them how much they had won.
They are planning on taking the whole family on holiday, said Sharon, a mum of six.
The couple had recently painted the front of the village pub vibrant pink to raise money for Breast Cancer Now and the Alan Hudson Centre in Wisbech which supports people with life-limiting conditions.
“We had a couple of local people who have breast cancer and wanted to raise money so mum and dad said they would hold an event,” said daughter Rebecca.
Practicing Pagan Juliette Corvelli (68) said she knew ‘something was coming.’
“I read tarot cards a lot and I knew there was a big change coming. I was seeing it for a few weeks that something was changing in my life, and that it was good.’
She said she would be supporting her two daughters and a granddaughter.
Nicky Panter (52) sobbed when she saw the cheque before telling her husband Lee not to cry or swear!
The couple, who moved from Essex during the pandemic, will be buying a camper and go travelling.
Keen gardener ‘teapot Pete’ said the win was life changing.
“I was in the shower when I got a knock on the door and ignored it. This is absolutely life changing. We’ll do the obvious things, have a little break and there are always jobs to do in the garden,” said Peter Eves, whose home has a topiary teapot.
The retired IT project manager said he and his wife Sharon (57) were discussing plans for the money.
Next-door neighbours Caron Bishop (56) and her husband Adrian (62) were stunned when they saw the amount.
“We are going to be booking a holiday and getting on with some house renovations. We have just been blessed with a grandson and am sure he’ll be having quite a bit of it,” said Adrian.
