A Birmingham couple, Teresa Lay and Wayne Jackson, both 54, were left speechless when they discovered they had won an astonishing £333,333 on the Postcode Lottery. The life-changing moment was captured on video as they opened a giant envelope revealing their jackpot.
Wayne’s stunned “Oh my God” echoed their disbelief as the reality of winning sank in. The couple played the lottery using the postcode of their new village home in Lincolnshire, where they recently relocated earlier this year.
Teresa reflected, “This kind of thing doesn’t happen to people like us. It’s absolutely amazing. I’ve never really won anything before. I once won £180 at the pub and thought that was unbelievable… now this!”
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The pair were among three winners sharing a £1 million prize after the postcode LN8 2EX hit Postcode Lottery’s Millionaire Street prize on Saturday, July 18. Each ticket holder received £333,333.
Interestingly, Teresa and Wayne had moved into what Teresa now refers to as “the luckiest bungalow ever”—previously owned by June Kettlewell, who also won the same £333,333 prize.
Teresa only signed up for the Postcode Lottery after the couple was setting up direct debits for their new home. “When we moved in February, Wayne suggested trying the lottery. I was hesitant at first but then thought, ‘It’s worth a go.’”
With a combined family of five children and nine grandchildren, the couple met almost a decade ago while working as National Express coach drivers. Wayne has served 30 years with the company, and Teresa over ten years.
Just days before the big win, Teresa experienced another stroke of luck by winning £180 at their local pub, The Crown Inn, playing a game called Higher or Lower. “It was down to the last cards, and I guessed lower on a six — the card was a five! I was jumping up and down,” she said.
The timing of their lottery win couldn’t have been better. With ongoing renovations in their bungalow, the prize money now allows them to finish the work without financial strain. Teresa shared, “We’ve been refurbishing one room at a time. Now we can finally finish properly, do the garden, and enjoy it the way we dreamed.”
Looking ahead, the couple plans to reduce their working hours and focus more on work-life balance. “We’ve worked hard all our lives. This win means spending more time with family, enjoying ourselves, and making memories,” Teresa explained.
Travel is also high on their agenda. After falling in love with Montenegro, Teresa and Wayne are planning several holidays, including potentially a cruise. “It’s not about flashy things. It’s about spending time together while we can.”
The past year has been emotionally challenging for the couple, marked by several bereavements. Teresa said, “We’ve had so much sadness. This win has given us something wonderful to smile about.”
Wayne emphasized how much the win means for his family, especially his mother, who is living with dementia. “This money means we can spend much more time with Mum. You can’t put a price on that.”
June Kettlewell and her husband Mike, who moved eight miles away to Market Rasen, also won £333,333 using the same postcode. They credited a Postcode Lottery customer service agent for advising them that they could continue playing with their old postcode after moving.
Mike said, “I can’t thank the young lady enough. We weren’t aware we could keep using our postcode if we moved.”
The couple, now retired, plans practical purchases, including a power chair for June and a heating/cooling system tailored to her needs, especially important after recent heat spells.
The third big winner was Rebecca Andrews, 46, who celebrated with her husband David Docherty, 70.