A grandmother originally from Newtonmore has landed a wonderful £90,909 lottery windfall, receiving the life changing news while making her way home from a holiday visiting family in the Highlands.
Cathy Peters, 70, had just flown from Inverness to Luton and was waiting for a bus back to Leicestershire when she received the unexpected telephone call telling her she had won a share of a £1 million Postcode Lottery prize.
The retired cleaner, who grew up in Newtonmore and still has sisters, a brother, cousins and other relatives living in Scotland, could hardly believe what she was hearing.
Cathy moved south many years ago and has lived at her present address in Melton Mowbray for half a century, but the Highlands remain a special part of her life.
Her good fortune came when postcode LE13 0LN was drawn as the winner of the lottery’s Millionaire Street prize on Saturday 3 October, with Cathy and ten neighbours each collecting £90,909.
And while some lottery winners might immediately start looking at luxury houses or extravagant purchases, Cathy’s plans are rather more personal.
She wants to treat her family to a holiday, replace her trusty 16 year old Audi and perhaps make a little more of a special trip to Nashville next year with her two sisters and daughter.
There is also the small matter of a bottle of Boizel champagne which she has kept since her wedding 46 years ago, and which the widow now intends to open in celebration.
Recalling the moment her remarkable news arrived, Cathy said:
“I got the call to say I’d won when I was on the way home from holiday in Scotland.
“I’d just flown back from Inverness Airport and was sitting at the bus station at Luton Airport to go back to Leicester.
“I couldn’t believe it.
“I thought they were having me on.
“I’ve got sisters, brother, cousins…everyone is up there.
“I can’t wait to tell them up in Scotland.
“Maybe a family holiday and a little new car for myself.
“I’m going to Nashville this time next year with my two sisters and daughter.
“I’m absolutely delighted…over the moon.
“I never thought it would happen to me.”
Her excitement was shared by other winners along the street, including retired father of three Dave Hazeldine, 65, who received his cheque after a particularly difficult few weeks.
Dave had undergone spinal surgery before being rushed back into hospital for an emergency gall bladder operation, leaving his family with far more immediate concerns than winning the lottery.
His wife Jackie, 54, who originally comes from Motherwell, was delighted to see some welcome good fortune arrive during her husband’s recovery.
Jackie said:
“I could cry.”
“We’ve had a horrendous couple of weeks.
“When Dave has fully recovered from his two operations, we’re going on holiday.”
Dave and Jackie are considering a trip to Greece and possibly a new car, although they intend to take their time before making any major decisions.
For Cathy, meanwhile, the win is particularly sweet because she had never seriously imagined collecting anything approaching such a large sum.
She had hoped that perhaps £30,000 might come her way one day, only to find herself receiving more than three times that amount.
And somewhere among the celebrations, the holidays and the prospect of a shiny replacement for her ageing Audi, there is a rather lovely Highland connection to the whole story.
Cathy travelled north to spend time with the people and places she loves, and came home with memories of Scotland and a telephone call that she will surely never forget.
Details of all the prizes players have the chance to win with a monthly subscription can be found here
Players can check if their postcode is a winner on Postcode Lottery’s Lottery Results page.
