FOUR stunned OAP mates have won £333,333 on the People’s Postcode Lottery – after forming a syndicate at the pub.
Karen Baylis, her civil partner Julie Towse, and neighbour pals Ann Swallow and Julie Boocock, decided five years ago to chip in £3 a month each while enjoying a tipple at their local boozer.
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Now they are celebrating after scooping a share of the £1million jackpot in the lottery’s Millionaire Street prize.
Retired prison officer Karen, of Overton, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, said: “It’s great sharing this fantastic win with our lovely friends who live over the road.
“We decided to have one ticket between us and see what we got. I never, ever imagined anything like this. I might have to start singing. It is just amazing.”
The foursome have big plans when they split the cash – worth over £83,333 each.
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Karen, 76, who signed up for the ticket, and partner Julie, 65, now plan to turn left on the plane – by upgrading a holiday to Australia next July.
The couple are taking Julie’s sister Alison Howson, 57, to see her daughter Gemma Tilse, 31 – who is expecting her second child in January – at her home two hours from Sydney.
And they have also vowed to help out their two nieces.
Emotional Karen said: “Julie and me are off to Australia in July to see Julie’s niece. It won’t be economy now, it’ll be first class.
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“The first thing we started talking about when we knew we’d won something was who are we giving the money to.
“Our two nieces need the money. They’re younger so it’ll go to them.”
She added: “I’d also like a new utility room. You can’t explain the emotions you feel, this is absolutely wonderful.”
Partner Julie, who is also a retired prison officer, said their Oz trip will be really special now.
She said: “I’ll be telling my sister this afternoon. We have nothing to worry about now.
“My sister is going home after three weeks, but Karen and I are staying on and hiring a car to drive up the coast to Brisbane and we’ll fly home from there.”
She added: “This hasn’t sunk in yet. I’ve had a sleepless night over it.”
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Pals Ann and Julie Boocock, 65, live directly opposite in adjoining semi bungalows.
Widow Ann Swallow, 76, broke down as she told how she’ll treat her son and two grandsons.
The retired market trader said: “We’re all good friends here. There isn’t another street like ours. It’s brilliant to win with three friends, we’re all in it together.
“I thought it might be £30,000 between us. Even £250 each would have been nice.
“You never think of this. You see it on the TV and wish it would happen to you, but when it does you get very emotional.”
She added: “I’ve got two grandchildren and one is starting university, so I’ll be able to help them.”
Julie, married to hubby Neil, 78, said she would like a new kitchen, sofa – and gold walking stick.
But, after keeping news of the win a secret from family – she wants to take care of their four kids, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The former garden centre cook said: “My husband gave me a kiss before I came over here and said ‘I might not see you again’.
“We’ll help our family. This will make them a bit happier. My husband and I are booked up to go to Tenerife, but this will make it much nicer.”
She laughed: “I’d like a new sofa and kitchen. Maybe even a gold walking stick. I didn’t want to get too excited. I thought it might be about £2,000. I would have been quite happy about that.”
Karen, partner Julie and Ann are all founder members of a group of pals who call themselves ‘The Staying Alive Gang’ – and have scarves, bags and umbrellas with their logo.
They’ve already booked a villa with three other friends to go to Center Parcs in Sherwood Forest next March – but might ramp up the break now.
But Karen reckons she might be the only one to brave the zipwire.
She said: “I do walking football and it keeps me fit. I used to play in the 70s and now I’m playing in my 70s.”
Karen, who buys the ticket ever month, said she had been saving up little £10 Postcode Lottery prizes they won since they started playing. In April last year, they blew £160 between the four of them on a trip to Pontefract races.
She said: “It gave us £40 each to spend at the races.”
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Karen told how the street is so tight-knit they all helped her and Julie when they downsized from a bigger house in the road to their semi-bungalow.
She said: “We moved from another house a few doors up, but we didn’t need a removal van. The neighbours helped and moved everything in wheelbarrows.”
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