A COINCIDENTAL connection with Windermere helped a couple from Hyde land a sizable share of a £1 million Postcode Lottery windfall.
The postcode SK14 4PU proved to be successful in the weekly Millionaire Street prize, with each winning ticket worth a whopping £90,909.
Among those winners were Jim and Georgina, who have two daughters and four grandchildren.
They scooped £181,818 in total as Georgina, and another neighbour, played with two tickets so doubled their winnings.
Jim and Georgina met at the Windermere Hotel in Windermere and have lived on Windermere Road in Hyde all of their married life.
“It’s quite the coincidence,” a shocked Georgina said. “Windermere is very lucky for us – obviously! I never thought for a minute something like this would happen to us.”
Jim joked: “We can’t get away from the place!”
The couple, who have been married for 46 years, met when Georgina worked in the hotel restaurant and Jim was in the bar.
And one year after tying the knot, they bought a house on a street named after Windermere – 100 miles away from the Lakes.
Retired waitress Georgina said: “If you look at the map, you’ll find a lot of the streets here are named after places in the Lake District.”
They plan to spend the money on spoiling their grandkids – and a new door, no less! – before jetting off into the sun.
Georgina, who also worked at Manchester City’s football academy, laughed: “The main thing we’ll do for ourselves is a new front door. We got a new back door last year.
“It’s the only decision we’ve made so far.”
She added: “My grandson is a big Manchester City fan and plays for Hyde FC’s Under 9s. They’ve just won a summer tournament. He wants fancy football boots, so I’ll surprise him with a pair.
“We’ve now got enough money to buy new passports. If we want to go on holiday anywhere, we need to renew our passports first.”
Georgina didn’t want to put make-up on in case a celebrity came to her door.
“I got a call from the lottery the week before and they said I’d won, but said they’d visit us to tell us how much,” she said.
“I just sat down and cried when I came off the phone. They said Jason Donovan might be coming to my door. I thought I better put on some mascara, but I knew I’d cry and it would be running down my face so I didn’t. I’m glad I didn’t – I haven’t stopped crying since I saw the amount.”
Across the road, single mum Alana bagged £90,909 and wants to treat her three rescue dogs – but also has ambitions to set up a street food business.
Alana said: “The dogs give me a sense of purpose. I’m out every day walking. I’ve got relapsing remitting MS. So, it’s keeping me healthy and the muscles working, and so far, it’s working.
“I want to get my garden completely landscaped and kitted out for the foster dogs, potentially even a doggy day-care. I want to take the dogs on holiday to maybe Wales or Scotland because I’ve never been, but the list is endless.”
She added: “I’ve always wanted to buy a food van, a people facing and effective wee business. I could sell sandwiches, pies and bacon butties. I don’t have a name yet but maybe JD’s because Jason Donovan surprised me with the cheque.”
Alana has described it as “a complete life-changing experience” and said the amount she got was triple what she was expecting.
She also wants to help out a neighbour and go fence shopping with her friend next door.
“My neighbour at the end of the street has built a communal garden – paying for it off his own back,” she explained.
“I’d like to throw him a bit of money just towards lighting or more plants going forwards.
“I can buy a fence for me and my neighbour, Carol. We’re really excited to go fence shopping. I’ve never thought in a million years that I would ever be in this position.”