ONE AREA of Stalybridge is feeling flush after people won their share of £1 million – with one woman’s premonition coming true.
Five neighbours are celebrating after scooping £200,000 each when their address was announced in the People’s Postcode Lottery’s weekly Millionaire Street prize.
The SK15 1LQ zone, which takes in parts of Stamford Street, Hamilton Street, Newton Street, Gledhall Street and Sidebottom Street, was pulled out on Saturday, November 30.
Then again, Beth Gartside would have known it would after telling her family two weeks earlier she was ‘destined’ to win.
Now the mystic mum-of-three and husband Stephen Clayton are looking to buy their dream house in Mossley – once her parents have been treated.
Beth and family, with children aged five, nine and 12, moved back into their house in October last year to help them save for a house deposit.
The 32-year-old considered cancelling her lottery ticket but vowed that ‘one day’ she would win big.
And the homeless prevention officer for Oldham Council said: “It’s unbelievable. I just feel so lucky. I thought I’d win but I just didn’t think I’d win this much.
“About two weeks ago, I was sat in my parent’s living room, and I told them, ‘I just feel like I’m destined to win the Postcode Lottery.’
“I wasn’t joking, I was dead serious. Maybe I’m just delusionally optimistic.
“Earlier in the year I said to Ste, ‘I don’t know what to do about the Postcode Lottery but I’m telling you I am destined to win it.’
“I also told Stephen’s mum and dad a few months ago that I was going to win, and then about two weeks ago I told my mum the same thing.
“I just genuinely thought since starting it that one day I’m going to win it.”
The couple, who got married two years ago, said they can now go for their dream home after the win.
Beth added: “Getting a house is everything to us. To have a family home and to give the kids their own bedrooms is everything.
“We looked at a house listed for £200k recently and we liked another one that was a bit more expensive but didn’t think we’d get it.
“We’re going to push for more viewings now.
“We can treat my parents because it’s their postcode. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have won.
“My mum was crying her eyes out when I showed her the cheque. I don’t know if that’s because we’ve won or that she doesn’t play!
“We’ve blown money our whole lives, but we won’t blow all of this.”
Stephen, a senior support worker for Tameside Council supporting people with learning disabilities and mental health, said: “Our kids will get spoiled at Christmas, but they’ll be so happy when we get our house.
“We’re going to buy in Mossley, we like it there and the kids go to school there.”
Flatmates Mark Collinge, 63, and Chris Searle, 50, both won £200,000 just weeks before moving out after their landlord sold their rented accommodation.
Mark, who works as a market researcher, said: “I’ve never won anything in my life. I’m just glad we haven’t moved yet.
“I’m going to Thailand and when I come back, I’ll be moved into my new postcode. So, I’ve been very lucky.
“I’ll be retiring at 67 for sure – no doubts about it. It’s a life-changing amount.”
Chris said: “I can’t stop looking at the cheque. It’s hard to believe. I’ll give some of it to my son and my grandson and it’ll be a great Christmas.”
Less than 20 minutes after winning, he ran down the street to greet his friend and neighbour Lesley Woodruff, who also netted £200,000.
The mum-of-one, 50, said the stunning sum was ‘beyond her wildest dreams’ and it will help daughter Olivia get in the property ladder.
She said: “I’m numb. It’s absolutely mind-blowing, we’re just working-class people.
“My daughter and her boyfriend Joe are renting so I’m going to give her a big deposit.
“And I’ll probably give my car to my daughter, and I might buy myself a nice new one.”
“I lost my auntie Anne and my partner, Lee Haworth, lost his dad earlier in the year. It’s still very raw.
“So, we’re going to have the best time ever, now more than ever. Hopefully, New York for New Year now.”
As well as the lucky winners, local charities have been awarded large sums by the Postcode Community Trust.
Reuben’s Retreat, which currently supports over 700 individuals, from families who have suffered child bereavement to those who have children with medical complexities, has been given £75,000.
It is aiming to completely renovate its building, eventually offering breaks to families via a series of bespoke self-catering and accessible apartments.
Nicola Graham, chief executive, founder and mum of Reuben – who died at 23-months-old from an aggressive brain tumour while on a family holiday in Devon – said: “We aim to deliver bespoke support packages for each family allowing them to make magical memories in our retreat that’s dedicated to Reuben’s legacy.
“It means so much to us to be able to facilitate these experiences, for example via our hydrotherapy pool that has given parents the opportunity to hold children in their arms for the first time in 15 years in some cases.
“The incredible amount of funding takes us steps forward to realising our vision, the more money raised, the more of our building we’re able to renovate, which means reaching more families in their darkest of days.
“The sooner we can complete, the sooner we can help more families create magical memories.”
Other local organisations awarded funding include Age UK Tameside, which received £50,000 and Tameside East Foodbank, which has been awarded £20,000.