Chipping Ongar Millionaire Street

OVERJOYED Ian Calver won a cheque for £111,111 with his gran's address despite moving out three years ago.

Ian joined the lottery while living with his nan in Chipping Ongar, Essex, and then kept playing with her postcode after flitting to a new home 11 miles away with his husband, Ollie Chivers.

Emotional Ian, now of Chelmsford, Essex, broke down after bagging his windfall and revealed that winning with his old address made it more special.

He said: "When we moved, I called Postcode Lottery to change the address and then thought that I wouldn't. It's my nan's house, so I just left it going. The house has been in my life since I was born. I grew up there."

He added: "My nan will be speechless. She'll be made up and will probably cry."

Ian celebrated with six of his former neighbours in nearby Chipping Ongar after CM5 0BU bagged our weekly £1m Millionaire Street prize today.

Every winning ticket was worth £111,111, but two neighbours doubled their prizes by playing with two tickets.

Ian and his hubby Ollie had moved in with his grandmother, Marge Wallis, while they saved up to buy their own home.

But he only told his partner and parents that he hadn't switched his postcode after getting a call to say he'd won.

When Postcode Lottery ambassador Matt Johnson presented him with his cheque, Ian and Ollie were hugged by his tearful parents, Sean and Donna

Donna, a full-time carer for elderly Marge, said: "I feel fantastic. It couldn't have happened to a better two people.

"When Ian first rang me and said he had won with my mum's address, I didn't realise you could play with another postcode. The fact that he carried on playing with that postcode after moving is amazing.

"When they lived with my mum, they looked after her. I said to my mum that we'd tell her as soon as they found out. She was just so pleased that they had won anything. She said, 'Good luck to them, they deserve it.'"

Local authority supervisor Sean added: "Donna letting them live at her mum's house is the reason why People's Postcode Lottery are here today. It's one of those goodwill things that has led to this."

Now Ian and compliance manager Ollie - who married in October 2019 - have big plans for their future, including pimping up a holiday they already have booked.

The couple are set to jet off on a two-week road trip to Canada's west coast in April, taking in Vancouver and Vancouver Island.

Ian, an asset management firm admin worker, said: "We might have a look at hotels that we're staying in and make some upgrades.

"We might also look for something a bit more exciting to do when we're there that we would never have entertained before."

And they want to plough some cash into more home improvements at the semi they have transformed since buying it three years ago.

Ian said: "We'd like a loft conversion. The house is quite compact upstairs, so a bit more space and another bathroom would be nice. Nothing crazy."

Ian told us how he would've been left gutted if he'd switched his postcode and then found out his old street had won.

He said: "I would have been fuming at myself. I'm pleased for all the people that still live there."

He added: "I can't feel my legs. It's been really nerve-wracking, and we've had a few sleepless nights. I've been sat looking out the window for the past couple of hours.

"This will go a long way. I'm lost for words. I can't stop looking at it."

Ollie, cuddling the couple's lively pet Jug Dot - a cross between a Jack Russell and a Pug - said: "We've got some champagne in the fridge."

Back in Chipping Ongar, good friends and next-door neighbours Steven Smith and Neil Nagle congratulated each other after revealing their £111,111 cheques together.

The families are so close they've even installed a gate in the fence between both homes so they can get easier access.

Now wheelchair-user Steven - left paralysed from the waist down after cancer spread to his spinal cord - and wife Lynn will use their win to make further adaptations at their home and holiday caravan.

Positive Steven, who has been cancer-free for around seven years, said: "We've had to do quite a lot of things to the house, and it costs a lot of money. This will be amazing. We'll pay for more adaptations and improve my quality of life.

"We've also got a caravan in Felixstowe, so we might buy some nice things for that. And we'll have some nice meals out."

He added: "It is great to win with Neil. We've known each other for years. My wife Lynn and his wife walk the dogs together every day. We all look out for each other."

Across the driveway, Neil said the win would boost his and his wife Corinne's retirement. They have five children and four grandchildren.

He said: "I'm speechless. We're retired, but life doesn't stop. This means a hell of a lot.

"It is such a surprise. You don't think you're ever going to win anything like that. I know you join it to participate, but this is a shock."

He added: "I'm thrilled for Steven, he deserves it. We're the best of friends and have been neighbours for a long while. We couldn't ask for any more."

All of the neighbours first signed up to support local, national and international charities. One organisation near them has benefitted from their wins.

Ongar and District Community Association (ODCA) has been awarded £30,000 by Postcode Community Trust.

ODCA operates Budworth Hall - a landmark Grade 2 listed Victorian Building erected in 1886.

Paul Keska, chairperson of ODCA, said: "Budworth Hall is steeped in history, and we are deeply privileged to be custodians of the building.

"A building of this scale comes with significant costs, and with our current renovation projects going on, we have a lot of spend to commit to throughout the year."

Budworth Hall houses a ballroom with an adjacent kitchen, a licensed bar, a concert hall, a meeting room and a restaurant.

The rooms are available for hire by local groups, voluntary and charitable organisations, and private functions across Ongar.

The ballroom is currently being renovated and repaired with a view to opening back up in the coming months.

Paul said: "At every step of its life, Budworth Hall's purpose has been to cater for the community. From 1914 to 1919, during the First World War, Budworth Hall became a hospital for wounded and sick troops.

"Fast forward to 2025, and Budworth Hall is the home of many groups, including the Ongar History Society, get fit classes and children's karate, as well as expanding plans to become a wedding venue."

The funding awarded to ODCA will be spread across multiple projects, including ongoing renovations and improving the Hall's accessibility.

Other local organisations who have been awarded funding include:

• Barrow Farm Riding For The Disabled Limited - £50,000 Making equestrian sport accessible to people in the Essex area with disabilities since 1976. Their purpose-built riding centre supports children and adults who may be unable to attend other riding schools.
• St Clare Hospice - £50,000 Providing compassionate, specialist palliative care services to adults living with advanced and progressive life-limiting illness, people experiencing bereavement or facing end-of-life care.
• Voluntary Action Epping Forest - £50,000 An independent charity that has supported local residents, charities, and community groups for over 30 years, helping improve quality of life, health, and wellbeing.

Good Causes Everywhere

Today's prize is part of a draw promoted on behalf of Postcode Community Trust. Supported by our players, this trust supports smaller charities and good causes in Wales to make a difference to their community for the benefit of people and planet.

With a minimum of 30% of each ticket price going to charities and good causes, players of People's Postcode Lottery have raised more than £1.4 billion for thousands of deserving causes and projects across Great Britain and around the world. Our players are making a difference every day for a wide range of amazing organisations.

With fabulous Prizes announced every single day, it's a great time to become a People's Postcode Lottery player. Take a look at How It Works and, if you're feeling lucky, sign up to play.