A retired couple nearly lost out on a £142,857 People’s Postcode Lottery prize – after deciding to cancel their ticket once their house was sold.
Colin Homer, 69, and his wife Janet, 67, put their Hertfordshire home on the market two weeks ago – and now their postcode has landed a share of a £1 million prize.
If they’d had a quick sale, the couple’s pledge to cancel their ticket means they’d have missed out the fortune completely.
Colin, of Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, said: “We’d only put the house on the market two weeks ago.
“If it had sold quickly, we could’ve easily stopped the ticket – but fate had other ideas.”
Colin was among seven neighbours in Waltham Cross sharing the lottery’s weekly £1m
Millionaire Street prize when EN8 7QY was announced as the winner on Saturday 11 October. Each winning ticket was worth £142,857.
For Janet, the win carries an emotional significance. Her late dad, Don Cole, who passed away in 2021 aged 85, had once convinced Colin to sign up for the lottery after scooping £1,000 himself.
Janet said: “It was my dad who got Colin into it. About five years ago, my dad got a golden envelope through the door with a £1,000 cheque inside. He was so excited. He then persuaded Colin to play.
“He’s looking down on us now. I’m sure he is.”
Moments after winning, Colin lifted his £142,857 cheque above his head and looked up to the skies in honour of his late father-in-law.
The couple were left stunned when their prize was revealed.
