A GRANDDAD who won £111,111 in his first lottery draw was entered into it by his loving granddaughter.
Geoffrey Hoe, 75, was urged by teacher Holly Chapman, 33, to enter the People’s Postcode Lottery after she won a few £10 prizes.
But Geoffrey kept forgetting to buy a ticket until Holly reminded him again – only to strike gold less than a month later.
The retired trading standards officer then bagged £111,111 in his first ever draw after his Bottesford, Notts, postcode won big.
Geoffrey said: “Our granddaughter who lives in London said she had joined the Postcode Lottery and kept winning.
“I phoned up and it was so simple. The person said I was too late for the April draw, but it would be available to take part in the May draw.
“This is the actual May draw and I’ve won! I can’t believe it – £12 in exchange for today’s prize is just unbelievable.
“The last thing we won was a 12-inch black and white portable television in the seventies.”
Geoffrey and wife Jenny, 76, are now planning to spend the cash on helping their family and treating themselves.
They have four grandchildren and on great-grandchild on the way.
Geoffrey said: “Firstly we’ll help the family. We might look at a new car, the garage roof needs sorted and I’d like some block-paving at the front of the house.”
Jenny added: “This never happens to us. I’d love to stay at the Headland Hotel in Cornwall.”
The win for the NG13 0ED postcode comes only a week after another Nottinghamshire location won £1m.
In that draw, winners won £83,333 each, but one player banked £166,666 with two tickets.
Meanwhile, Geoffrey’s neighbour Olga was told by her friend Linda to sign back up after she had cancelled her ticket last year.
The grandmother said: “This is so lovely. I must calm down. Linda and I are best friends. We go out together, have lunch together and have been on holiday together.
“Linda played and asked if I was playing. I used to play and stopped, so I said ‘ok then, I’ll start playing again’. I’m so grateful, and I’ll enjoy spending it.”
ACCORDING to the official website, players sign up with their postcode and pay £12 per month.
They are automatically entered into every draw and prizes are announced every day of the month.
Tickets play for prizes every day of the week – from Monday to Sunday, a ticket could win £1,000 each day in the Daily Prize.
Tickets could also win a jackpot of £30,000 in Saturday and Sunday’s Street Prize draws.
People’s Postcode Lottery also offer a £3 Million Postcode Millions draw each month – and your ticket plays for a share of a £3 Million cash prize fund.
Winners are notified by email, SMS message, mail or phonecall depending on the prize they win.
Jackpot winners are visited by the lottery team in person.
