‘It doesn’t feel real’: NHS nurse retired after 43 years wins £400K lottery jackpot
A nurse who retired from the NHS after 43 years has landed a whopping £400,000 lottery jackpot.
Terry Young, 61, who lives in Langsdale Road, Mitcham, said she “won’t have to go back to work” after she won the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Terry had to break the news of her massive win to a non-playing neighbour – her own sister.
Stunned Terry, 61, bagged £396,694 after signing up for the People’s Postcode Lottery five years ago.
She said: “I signed up because it was going to help charities.
“I feel disbelief. I’m not sure what I’ll do with the money yet, but I’ll be able to do something for my sister, niece and nephew.”
But her younger sister, Janet Neale, 60, who lives in the flat directly below Terry, didn’t know her sibling was a player and had never bought a ticket herself.
Mum-of-two Janet said: “This is brilliant for Terry. It’s unbelievable. I can’t believe it is so much money. I thought it would only be around £10,000.
“When the Postcode Lottery came to the door, I thought it was people turning up with the new rug I’d ordered.”
She added: “I never knew Terry had joined the Postcode Lottery. I wish I had joined. I will be now!”
Watch the moment Terry finds out how much she won (Picture: People’s Postcode Lottery)
Terry was one of two big winners each collecting £396,694 with postcode CR4 4AG.
She lives in the top flat of an end-of-terrace home which her grandad bought almost 100 years ago. Terry and Janet’s dad later converted it into two flats for his girls, with Janet on the ground floor.
The former nurse now reckons her small fortune will resuscitate her plans to retire for good. She left the NHS a couple of years ago, but returned to complete an IT project.
She finally gave up again in April after 43 years – and now the win will give her financial security.
Terry said: “This doesn’t feel real yet. It’s amazing. I wasn’t expecting it to be as much. All I was told at first was that it would be more than £5,000.
“It means I won’t have to go back to work. I’ve just retired and it will help with my retirement.”
Terry is also planning to finish off a revamp of her flat – and may travel to Canada to meet long-lost relatives.
She said: “I’ll get the flat decorated. I’m just about to get a brand new kitchen and I’ve been packing everything up. I can’t move for boxes.
“I might also go to Canada and see some relatives I’ve never met yet.”
Terry and a neighbour each won the maximum individual prize. That left £206,612 to be shared among 331 people in the postcode sector CR4 4.
Each ticket was worth £546, but 35 people landed £1,092 with two tickets and six winners got £1,638 with three briefs.
Postcode Lottery ambassador Jeff Brazier said: “The sun was shining on the gold envelope when I presented it to Terry.
“Bringing people joy and telling them how they are also continuing to help charities is still the best way to start the day.”
Pictured top: Terry Young, 61, with a cheque for nearly £400,000 from the People’s Postcode Lottery (Picture: People’s Postcode Lottery)
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