‘It’s unbelievable’: Postcode Lottery joy for Crewe widower
David with his much-loved chihuahua Susie
The great-grandad learned of his win on the same day as his late wife’s birthday
A great-grandad thought he might be pocketing a tidy £20,000 when Postcode Lottery staff turned up outside his Crewe home. Instead, stunned pensioner David Lomas, 82, discovered he’d also scooped a jaw-dropping £333,333.
The win came just 17 months after his beloved wife May died aged 79 following more than six decades together. The widower said his family are convinced May had a hand in it from above after Postcode Lottery phoned to say he’d won – on the same day as his late wife’s birthday.
David said: “My granddaughter said, ‘Nana sent this to you’. She would have been 81 yesterday. It’s unbelievable.” The retired Rolls-Royce car machinist admitted he barely slept after the call from the lottery staff telling him they’d be knocking on his door the very next day.
He said: “At first, I didn’t believe it. Then when they said they were going to come and film me, I thought it must be more than 50 quid.” When he saw the amount, the emotional grandad was left speechless.
At one point, David simply stared at the cheque in disbelief before joking: “I’m gonna wake up soon and it’ll all have been a dream.” David admitted the moment was bittersweet because he wished his wife could have shared it with him.
He said quietly: “I wish she was here. I wish it happened 10 years ago, then I would have really, really enjoyed it. But I’m really grateful as I thought my time had run out on ever winning anything – never mind something like this.”
David’s late wife pictured shortly before she passed away in 2025
David and May had been together for 62 years after first meeting as teenagers at a bus station. He said: “She was sweet 17 and I was 18. People said it would never last.” But it did and the devoted husband later worked alongside May at Rolls-Royce’s Crewe factory before both retiring in 1999.
Despite landing a fortune, the humble pensioner insists the cash will mostly be spent helping his family rather than splashing out on himself. He said: “This will be massive for my family. My daughter looks after six kids. I’ll help all of them. Basically, make sure my daughter’s sorted for the rest of her life.”
He nonchalantly added: “Me? I’m happy with what I’ve got.” The devoted family man also plans to take the entire clan on the dream holiday they’ve been saving up for. He said: “We were planning to go to Mallorca next year for my daughter Diane’s 60th birthday. We can definitely do it now. We can even go this summer.”
The neighbours were delighted to learn that local charities and good causes have also benefitted from their win. Nancy started playing the lottery to support charities close to her heart such as Breast Cancer Now, which has received over £16 million in funding.
And closer to home, one local organisation, Chance Changing Lives, has received £50,000 thanks to funds raised by Postcode Lottery players. The volunteer-led charity helps those facing homelessness and poverty in Crewe through compassion, dignity and practical support.
This content is sourced from www.cheshire-live.co.uk and is shared for informational purposes only.
