Family win ‘life-changing’ £157k in People’s Postcode Lottery

Richard Paterson, 51, became the biggest winner on his street when his kind gesture netted him £52,631 per ticket – one for each member of his family.

And the dad-of-one, of Dunfermline, said the decision was never about chasing a bigger prize – but instead to make sure wife Lyn, 49, and their daughter Lauryn, 20, didn’t miss out.

Richard said: “I signed up to Postcode Lottery about two years ago and I just decided to get one ticket for each of us. That was it. Nothing clever, nothing planned.

“Now this. It’s hard to believe. It’s a life-changing amount of money.”

Richard was among 17 neighbours in Dunfermline celebrating when KY11 8GW landed the lottery’s weekly Millionaire Street prize on Saturday, March 21. Each ticket was worth £52,631.

He was the only person in Beauly Crescent playing with more than one ticket.

Previously, Richard won a clothes steamer and just last month banked £45 on Postcode Lottery. He then told his wife that would be the full extent of his lottery luck.

Lyn, who works at Scottish Water, said: “Richard told me, ‘Well that’s it, we’re not winning anything else again.”

That was until Richard received three winning cheques – one by one – from Postcode Lottery ambassador Danyl Johnson.

He said: “I was still processing the second cheque when the third came out. I didn’t quite believe it. Honestly, the first cheque was big enough.”

Richard and his wife are hoping to return to New York – where they honeymooned – but this time with their daughter Lauryn.

The family also hope their winnings will bring security, home improvements, and more time spent together.

Lauryn’s also hoping to travel further afield after completing her International Business degree.

She added: “I’d love to go travel for a year before I actually start a full-time job. I’ve always wanted to see Asia. A few of my friends are doing Study Abroad out in Thailand and Vietnam just now and are loving it.”

Richard added: “She’s got one more year, and then we’d love her to go travelling. Maybe we could join her for some of that.”

Neighbours Donna Murray, 55, Gillian Henderson, 52, and Sheila Allison, 61, each toasted £52,631 windfalls.

After receiving a call from the lottery, Donna messaged a neighbours’ WhatsApp group chat, named ‘Beauly Ladies’, sending it into a frenzy.

Donna said: “It’s been so exciting since we all heard the news. I was the first to message the group saying, ‘Has anyone had a call from Postcode Lottery?’

“There’s like fifteen of us in our cul-de-sac that make up the Beauly Ladies. The first event that I joined was going to see the Barbie movie.

“We all wore pink and called ourselves the Beauly Ladies that night and it’s just stuck ever since.

“Even the ones who didn’t have tickets were so excited for us, they’ve been really gracious, really great neighbours wishing us all luck.”

The neighbours were all quick to say that supporting charities was part of the appeal of playing.

Richard said: “It helps good causes. That makes it even better.”

The Pars Foundation, Dunfermline Athletic FC’s charitable arm, received an £80,000 award thanks to Postcode Lottery players. The funding represents the biggest single sum ever awarded to the charity.

Kelly Armstrong, general manager, said: “This amount is the highest single amount that we’ve ever received. The £80,000 will impact so many lives in Dunfermline… and that’s our mission – to enhance the lives of people in our community.”

She added: “We are incredibly grateful to the players of the Postcode Lottery for making this possible. Your support helps us continue to create positive opportunities and lasting impact for people across our community. Thank you.”

Other charities involved are Scouts Scotland who received £60,000, Home-Start Dunfermline who received £50,000, Dunfermline Foodbank who received £50,000, and Children’s Clothing Bank Dunfermline SCIO who received £10,000.