Shiplake Millionaire Street

A SCHOOL cook who had a vivid dream that she'd won People's Postcode Lottery has scooped a whopping £821,990.

Sally was so convinced about her strong premonition two years ago that she went out and bought a second ticket - despite being teased by husband Murray.

And he could only look on speechless as his emotional wife's vision came true when she was presented with two big £410,995 cheques.

Sally, of Shiplake, Oxfordshire, said, "I had a dream about People's Postcode Lottery a couple of years ago. It was a white van with the Postcode Lottery logo on it sitting at the bottom of the drive at the gate. I saw £30,000 written on a card.

"It's been near enough in the back of my mind every day since. I've thought about it most weeks. I told Murray about it before. Even a week ago today, he asked if I'd won £10 that week. I said, 'No, but it is coming'. Sometimes I just get these feelings.

"I put on another ticket after the dream. I nearly cancelled it altogether at one point, but people just need to go with their feelings.

"I kept saying to everyone, 'My win is coming'. Now here you are, but I never dreamed of anything like this."

Sally - supported by daughter Laura - was the sole winner after her postcode RG9 4BX landed our weekly Millionaire Street prize today. Every ticket was worth £410,995, but Sally banked £821,990 with two. The rest of the prize pot was shared among players in the wider RG9 4 postcode sector.

Now excited Sally has new dreams - of buying a home, going on a world cruise, and helping out family.

She currently lives in a tied cottage on the farm where hubby Murray is head tractor driver. But the couple, who celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary in September, have been thinking of buying a house when he retires from the job he loves.

Now they may remain in Shiplake, which was where 1984 and Animal Farm author George Orwell once lived - and is just a couple of miles from celeb favourite Henley-on-Thames, which is often named as the best and happiest place to live in Britain.

The mum-of-two, who has been a Postcode Lottery player for six years, said, "The plan was to try and buy a little something in the Bournemouth area where my parents lived. But they have both passed away now."

Pointing to a sweet miniature cottage on her grandson's train set, she said, "That's my dream: a little cottage somewhere. It might be that we can buy a house in Shiplake now and stay in the village, which we never thought we could do."

She added, "My husband has worked so hard for us and never asked for anything back. He's my rock. Now I can give him something back."

Sally fell in love with cruising after spending idyllic holidays with her late mum. She said, "I would love a world cruise, but there are a lot of bridges to cross before we can do that. Our dog won't leave Murray's side. It's something I've always wanted to do because I don't like to fly.

"I'd love to go on a really nice ship and have a cabin with a balcony, think back on this day and how it has changed our lives. I've also always wanted to go to the pink castle hotel in Disneyland."

And she joked, "I'll go on holiday and send my doubting husband a postcard because he said I was never going to win anything. He can stay and look after the dog."

Sally, who has been battling ill health with spinal and shoulder conditions, said they will take time to consider how to deal with their new fortune.

But they will help boat skipper son James, fabric shop sales assistant daughter Laura, and grandson Joe.

And the poorly gran is already thinking of accelerating her retirement plans because her primary school role involves heavy lifting.

She said, "The main priority is using this money wisely and sensibly and securing our future and helping the family, no doubt. We'll look seriously at what we can do to help us for the rest of our lives.

"Because of my health, being able to retire would be everything to me."

After being alerted to her win, Sally thought she might be in line for £30,000 after looking at our website.

And when Presenter Danyl Johnson pulled out the first cheque, she thought that was the combined winnings from her two tickets.

But she was left speechless when he then grabbed another gold envelope and revealed her second cheque.

She said, "When I looked on the website, I thought I might get £30,000. But that was just hypothetical. I didn't want to go overboard.

"When the first cheque came out, I thought that was the total of what I'd won. I couldn't believe it when I got another cheque. I thought he had made a mistake."

Kind-hearted Sally said she first signed up for Postcode Lottery to help charities.

She said, "You get a chance to give as much as possible to charity, but also get a chance to win something. You're giving and may be able to receive a little too. I play to give to charity, with the thought that you might win big. But even if you don't win, you're still giving money to charity.

"Whatever charity you give to and however small the amount, all joined together it makes such a big difference. It would make the world a better place."

She added, "I'm stunned, happy and grateful. Wherever there's a postcode there's a winner."

Tearful daughter Laura said, "My parents are the most hard-working mum and dad ever. This couldn't have gone to better people. They've done so much for me and my son. They deserve it, it is just incredible."

Sally will be happy that her windfall means that local charities have benefitted from the Millionaire Street prize.

And one organisation, Headway Thames Valley, has been awarded £60,000 by Postcode Community Trust.

The charity, based in Henley-on-Thames, helps over 200 families every year to live life after brain injury in Berkshire and South Oxfordshire. They support people to regain lost skills, build confidence and independence, and cope with new challenges.

The funding will be going towards supporting and expanding the charity's existing range of services across their Brunner Hall hub, Living with Brain Injury courses, Brain Injury Support Groups, Neuro Rehab Services as well as some much-needed improvements to their headquarters.

Jamie Higgins, General Manager at Headway Thames Valley, said, "We have been absolutely blown away hearing the amount of funding we are receiving today.

"It is far more than we were initially expecting and will be vital in allowing us to continue our mission in supporting those impacted by brain injury."

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

• Nomad Henley (also known as Nomad Youth and Community Project) - £60,000 A local youth and community organisation supporting children, families and young people facing challenging situations. They also operate a food bank.

• Margaret Clitherow Trust - £60,000 Providing support to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, aiming to reduce prejudice and marginalization. They run a variety of programmes including advice and advocacy services and help with increasing educational access.

All funding was awarded by Postcode Community Trust.

The remainder of today's £1 Million pot was split between 89 players in the wider postcode sector, with every ticket worth £1,648. The prize breakdown was: five players with three tickets each won £4,944, nine players with two tickets each won £3,296, and 75 players with one ticket each won £1,648.

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 33% of the ticket price going to deserving projects, players of People's Postcode Lottery have now raised more than £1.3 Billion for thousands of charities and good causes across Great Britain, as well as internationally.

Have you been thinking about playing People's Postcode Lottery but not set up your subscription yet? There are Prizes announced every day. Find out more about How It Works. Sign up to play and join the fun.