High Wycombe Millionaire Street

A SHOCKED dad-of-three told us of his relief at winning £166,666 just weeks after he quit playing and then signed up again.

David Baldwin cancelled his People's Postcode Lottery subscription last October before rejoining in December.

Now he's celebrating after banking the bumper windfall and expressed his double delight at his close friend and next-door neighbour Bob Moorhouse also winning.

David, of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, said: "It's nice to win with neighbours and other people in the street.

"I did stop Postcode Lottery last year and fortunately restarted it at Christmas. It was a good job I did, really. I would have been happy for my neighbours but obviously gutted for myself.

"I would never have lived it down. I probably saw an advert on TV and decided to restart it. Maybe I thought I would win."

Cheeky Bob chipped in: "I'm glad he did start again because it's nice to share in this whole thing, even though if he hadn't, I would have gotten more."

David and Bob celebrated with four other neighbours in High Wycombe after HP13 5SY bagged our weekly £1m Millionaire Street prize today. Every winning ticket was worth £166,666.

The shocked pair were like a comedy double act as they revealed their cheques together in Bob's sunny front garden as their partners looked on.

Housing association neighbourhood manager David said: "I'm stunned, totally stunned. I can't believe it. We can get the fences fixed now."

Bob laughed: "We'll chip in."

He added: "We've been neighbours for a long time now and often get together."

David, who shares six children with his wife of three years Nicola, said: "We had dinner on Saturday."

Bob quipped: "We were over at yours at New Year drinking your gin. There'll be a party tomorrow night at your gin palace."

He added: "We're only going to tell people we've won £6 in case the begging letters come in. One of our neighbours who hasn't won has already said he's got a begging letter on his computer right now and just about to print it off."

David and school family support officer Nicola are now excitedly planning how to spend their winnings.

And Liverpool fan David, who has already bought hospitality tickets for next week's PSG clash, might take to the skies - once he comes down to earth.

He said: "I need a drink. We'll get the champagne out. I'm glad I answered the phone now. I need to go and lie down, I'm in shock. I had no idea I would win anything like that.

"I might get some flying lessons. I love planes. I'd like a new car and a holiday. Because we're both going to be 60 soon, we've booked to go to Mauritius. I wanted to go to America, but maybe we can do both now. There might be a little trip to Nashville."

He added: "We like to go to Majorca and love Portugal, too. We're actually thinking of moving abroad in the next couple of years."

Nicola also let slip another dream her hubby has. She said: "David wants to buy a camper van, then get up in the morning and say, 'You know what ...'"

David said: "I love La Rochelle in France. I'd love to go there and drive all the way along the coast."

Nicola couldn't believe he'd won £166,666 because it had her lucky number in it.

She said: "I was born in '66. It's my lucky number. I've even got it on my number plate. Then, when I saw the figure on the cheque, I was thinking, 'Oh my God!'"

Now she might add to the growing gin collection she displays in a cabinet in her living room.

She said: "Whenever we go anywhere, I get at least one. I've got about 40 big bottles at the moment. I love gin and have drunk it for years and years and years. I collect different gins and glasses. It's not like a doll collection - that's spooky."

The couple thought it would have been devastating if they'd had to watch their neighbours win if they hadn't signed up again.

Nicola said: "I don't think I could put into words what I would be saying."

David said: "I would probably have been crying."

Bob said: "We would have been sad." And he laughed: "There would have been no more barbecues or dinners with the neighbours."

Dad-of-two Bob and fiancée Bev Hunt will treat his twin granddaughters, who have a birthday later this month.

And he'll whisk full-time carer Bev and her mum Iris off on a special mini break.

IT consultant Bob - who spent 27 years in the RAF as a radar technician and software engineer - blurted out his surprise after clocking the big win.

He said: "This is better than a tenner! I just thought everyone was doing the Postcode Lottery, so thought I would join in. The WhatsApp group in the street has been buzzing for the last day.

"We'll spend a bit on the grandkids and a nice trip away."

And he said there would be a get-together with next door to mark the joint win. He added: "We'll probably go down to a lovely restaurant in Wycombe with our neighbours for a drink."

The neighbours were thrilled to learn that their win means local charities will also benefit from a Millionaire Street funding boost.

One organisation, The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Service South Buckinghamshire (RSASS), was awarded £50,000 by Postcode Community Trust.

Based in High Wycombe, RSASS has been providing specialist, trauma-informed support to survivors of sexual violence in the area for nearly 30 years.

RSASS's offerings include one-to-one specialist counselling, support from their counsellors, support from their Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA), befriending support, a 24/7 telephone helpline and educational workshops in the community to raise awareness and prevent further harm.

Donna Millar, Executive Director of RSASS, said: "Sexual violence remains a serious issue in the UK, and it's sadly something that will probably never go away.

"Even though we have been in operation for a number of decades, the last couple of years have been transformative for us as a charity as we have moved from just supporting women and girls to supporting all victims of sexual violence over 16, no matter their gender."

Each year, the charity supports up to 500 individuals, including survivors of recent and historic sexual abuse.

Service users can self-refer or be referred through a third party, partner organisation or loved one.

Donna added: "It's never too late to talk and get help if you're dealing with trauma. It doesn't matter if it happened in your childhood, a few years ago, or even if you're going through it now. We're here to help anyone and everyone who needs it. We're very grateful for the funding received today."

Other local charities who have benefitted from this week's Millionaire Street prize include:

• Social Link - £75,000. Providing a safe, supported and stimulating environment for adults with learning disabilities to develop a social network, independence, confidence, and realise their potential. They offer a variety of programmes and activities accessible to all their members.

• Addiction Family Support - £50,000. Support for people affected or bereaved by the consequences and outcomes resulting from a loved one's harmful use of alcohol, drugs, gambling and/or other substances. They offer a telephone helpline, support groups and regular wellbeing events.

All funding was awarded by Postcode Community Trust.

Charities Win Too

Today's prize is part of a draw promoted on behalf of Postcode Education Trust. Supported by our players, this trust delivers grant funding to organisations that provide education, particularly in emergency situations. Benefitting charities include AfriKids, Book Aid International and Theirworld.

With People's Postcode Lottery, a minimum of 30% of each ticket price goes to amazing charities and good causes around the world. Our players have raised more than £1.4 billion so far.

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