Marian Square residents in Staplehurst win £166k each in People’s Postcode Lottery
00:01, 20 January 2024
A stunned hairdresser says she’s in “dreamland” after winning a £166,666 lottery prize – and her parents also bagged the same eye-watering sum.
Kelly Southby, from Staplehurst, landed a huge People’s Postcode Lottery win before delivering her dad a matching cheque – also to the tune of £166,666.
Now, the 40-year-old is celebrating along with parents Tony and Sharon Frater after winning a share of the lottery’s Millionaire Street prize.
Kelly said: “You dream of winning the lottery but to win it with my parents … it’s just incredible. It’s going to take forever to sink in.”
Tony, 69, who lives a few doors down from his daughter, couldn’t believe his eyes after seeing Kelly standing at his door holding a golden envelope. He said: “It’s just blown us away.”
Kelly and Tony shared the £1 million jackpot with four of their Marian Square neighbours after their postcode, TN12 0SQ, was announced the winner. Every ticket was worth £166,666.
The lottery gave Kelly the opportunity to present her parents with their cash prize moments after she scooped her own “life-changing sum”.
The mum-of-two said: “I was still shaking and then to be a part of it for them, and to see their faces – it was so special.”
Tony and Sharon – who was also born in the village – have lived at their current address for more than 30 years and it’s where they raised their two children Kelly and Marcus.
After having children of her own, Kelly moved back to Staplehurst with her husband Jason and by chance bought a house in Marian Square – a few doors away from her mum and dad.
The Fraters are now planning a big family holiday to celebrate Tony’s 70th birthday later this year.
Sharon said: “We can take the whole family away for Tony’s birthday. It’s his treat but he’ll be paying.”
The grandad-of-four added: “We’re both retired, and we’ll be able to do things without worrying about anything. The security is the biggest thing.”
Kelly, who works as a self-employed hairdresser, is also planning a birthday trip for her husband, 48-year-old Jason.
Along with the winning dad-daughter duo, four others on the street celebrated £166,666 wins.
Steven Newman, 68, and wife Pauline were left gobsmacked after arriving home from hospital to a massive cash win.
Pauline had just undergone cataract surgery and returned home to a Postcode Lottery camera crew on her street.
Through a bandaged left eye and sunglasses, Pauline peered at their winning sum in disbelief.
She said: “I came home in the car with a scarf over my eyes, I couldn’t handle the light but luckily it started to get better.
“You see it on the telly but you never think this is going to happen to you.”
The couple plan to spoil their four grandchildren, Millie, 16, Poppy, 12, Ethan, nine, and Charlie, eight, with their winnings, starting with a family holiday.
Steven said: “I am a bit of a car snob, so I’ll probably upgrade now. I’ve been looking at a 4x4 black Jaguar with all the gear on it.
“I’m a bit of an old man driver now but I used to be a bit of a speed freak.”
The winners all told how they originally signed up for People’s Postcode Lottery because they wanted to support a range of charities.
And because their postcode has won, the Paddock Wood Community Advice Centre near Tunbridge Wells was awarded £15,000 from Postcode Community Trust.
The charity was set up by a number of previous Citizens Advice volunteers including Fiona Pengelley in 2012, shortly after the local Citizens Advice office closed down.
The funding will be used on operating costs and to purchase new equipment, enabling the recruitment of more advisors into its team of volunteers.
It offers support in a number of matters including welfare benefits, employment, housing and homelessness and mental health support.
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