An NHS nurse has surprised her hubby-to-be with an amazing phone call telling him he’d won a share of £1 million – only weeks after he lost his job, and they had to call off their wedding.
Craig Wise, 50, and fiancée Angie Stainton, 48, had just paid the deposit for their big day when Craig got the news he was being made redundant.
Now the pair are celebrating being able to pay off the wedding and can now book their honeymoon after winning £62,500 in People’s Postcode Lottery’s Millionaire Street prize.
Angie from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire said: “Craig was made redundant at the end of April. We’d booked our wedding and paid the deposit on the Monday and by the Friday he was out of a job.
“We had to put the wedding on hold because we didn’t know how long he’d be out of work for. Awful thoughts go through your mind.”
The couple, who have been together for 13 years have five children and one grandchild between them, can finally tie the knot next year.
Angie added: “Thankfully Craig got a new job this month, so the wedding is back on. This will pay for it, and we can definitely book the honeymoon now!”
Craig, who works in e-commerce, was at his new job when haematology nurse Angie rang his mobile to let him know the Postcode Lottery had knocked on their door.
Finding out he’d landed the five-figure sum over the phone, Craig said: “You are joking? At the minute there’s just fresh air going through my head.
“I think the coffees are going to be on me at work.”
Angie, who works at nearby Kings Mill Hospital, teared up during the phone call. She said: “This feels surreal. It’s taken my words away.”
Craig along with 13 neighbours won the lottery’s weekly £1 million prize after their postcode – NG19 6TY – was announced as the winner on Saturday 1 July.
Angie was thrilled so many of their neighbours had won, including Robin Feirn, who lives next door.
She said: “This is a smashing community. Robin has motorbikes and Craig used to ride them, so if I ever lose Craig, I know he’s probably next door in Robin’s garage tinkering with bikes.
“Craig’s looking for a new weekend project so I can see us clearing out a bit of garage space and putting our heads together with our neighbour for a new bike.”
Next door neighbour Robin Feirn, 65, also bagged £62,500 and described the cash windfall as ‘life altering’.
The retired mechanic said: “I’m normally full of rattle but I’m totally blown away.
“I won £1,600 in 2018 and I was surprised with that, but I’ve been stopped me dead with this one.”
Robin was one of 871 neighbours to share a £3 million Postcode Lottery jackpot back in September 2018.
Robin’s plans for the win include treating dogs springer spaniel Jerry, and pitbull Clyde and said: “The dogs won’t go short.
“I might get a new motorbike and my daughter Rebecca, who’s 33, could do with a new car. I’ll see them right.”
Across the road Karen Walker, 49, said her ‘dreams can come true’ after she won the largest sum of £125,000.
Factory worker Karen, who plays with two tickets, plans to use the money to help make life easier for hubby Dale Walker, 45, who suffers from multiple sclerosis (MS).
Karen said: “It’s overwhelming because I’ve never had this much money in my life before.
“We can get the bathroom, kitchen, conservatory, flooring and everything done now. It’s always been a dream up until now but now the dream is here.”
Dale added: “This will make life so much easier because with my condition I can no longer work. I can make the house more user friendly for me, especially for when I do eventually get worse.”
Karen also thanked her late dad Donald for her lottery luck after he passed away in May.
She said: “A week after his funeral I said, ‘I could do with a Postcode Lottery win’ and it’s ironic that I said it and now I’ve won.
“He’s definitely looking out for me.”
Gobsmacked mum Chantelle Johnson, 31, also picked up an eye-watering £125,000 cash prize.
Chantelle, who works as training manager, said: “This money has set us up for life!
“I can’t even say the amount out loud yet, it’s going to make a world of difference.”
Chantelle is now planning to buy her first home and treat her four-year-old daughter Bonnie to Disney World in Florida.
She said: “And it couldn’t come at a better time because my landlord is selling the house that I’ve been renting. I can now buy my first house.
“Bonnie has never been abroad, and I’ve always wanted to take her to Florida. My parents took me there when I was a kid and I want her to have the same amazing memories.”
Electricity board worker Steve Sherwin, 57, teared up when he saw the prize and also had Disney World in mind.
He said: “I must be dreaming. This is going to change my life. I can relax.
“You don’t think you will win, but you can, and I have.”
The dad-of-two says the win will help him realise a lifetime dream of taking his sons to the popular holiday destination.
Steve said: “It’s been a lifetime dream of mine to take Kyle, 27, and Tyler, 19, to Disney World. It’s so expensive that it’s never been possible, but it is now.
“I haven’t been able to give them what I wanted over the years but now I can give a little bit to help them out.”
Mum-of-one Helen Tasker, 39, says the win will make her six-year-old daughter Daisy’s dreams come true.
Helen, a self-employed internet assessor, said: “We haven’t been on holiday since Daisy was born because we didn’t have the money. She’s been dying to go on an aeroplane. I think we’ll do Gran Canaria all inclusive.”
Helen has lived at the postcode for nine years with partner Tom, 38, a medical factory supervisor.
She said: “This is our first house so we can’t move now!
“We’ve been due some luck, we don’t get much so we won’t be taking this for granted.”
Also among the winners on Lymington Road was Julieanne O’Neill, 39, Dawn Cojocariu, 48, Glenys Thorpe, 72, and Jan Switaj, 64, who all scooped £62,500 each.
The other winners chose to remain anonymous.
Postcode Lottery ambassador Matt Johnson said: “We had a glorious day in Mansfield surprising an incredible 14 winners.
“There were bottle corks popping all down the road when we turned up, so I’m sure the winners are going to have bundles of fun celebrating their big wins.”
He added: “It’s incredibly special to see neighbours winning together. But local charities in Mansfield also have something to celebrate, thanks to our players.
“People’s Postcode Lottery players have raised more than £1.1 billion for charities and thousands of local good causes. Neighbours win and charities win. That’s what we’re all about.”
How it works
People’s Postcode Lottery costs £12 a month to play and there are guaranteed winners every day. People play with their chosen postcode and are automatically entered into all draws. A minimum of 33% from each ticket goes to charity.
Every Saturday, £1 million will be shared by one postcode as part of the lottery’s Millionaire Street prize.
Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised more than £1.1 billion for thousands of charities and local good causes.
This prize was promoted on behalf of Postcode Animal Trust which supports organisations including Dogs Trust, Cats Protection and PDSA.
