The People’s Postcode Lottery has seen North East residents win thousands of pounds in 2024. Throughout the year, people from Whitley Bay, Newcastle and Gateshead have all seen their streets win big.
Now, we are looking back at these wins, and celebrating those who won a portion of the cash prizes this year.
Back in January, a Whitley Bay granddad bagged a jackpot of £166,666. Paul Rendles and his wife Elaine, both 64, celebrated after winning the life-changing amount, as they shared the £1m jackpot with 10 of their neighbours.
The couple, who are former foster parents, planned to use the money to help their three children and three grandchildren, as well as treating themselves to a Mediterranean break.
Paul and Elaine are celebrating after winning double their share of the Millionaire Street prize with two tickets
(Image: People’s Postcode Lottery)
Then, in February, a Newcastle army veteran also won £166,666, just 12 hours before he moved house. Alan Jones, 56, and his neighbours in Westerhope won the cash prize.
The former serviceman said: “I was going to cancel my ticket and renew it wherever I end up, but thank goodness I didn’t. I’ve got to be out by 2pm tomorrow and I’m basically packing up the house now because I need a new start, and this has helped give me that.”
Alan Jones celebrates his win
(Image: Postcode Lottery)
Later on, in June, a foster carer from Darlington scooped £150,000, when Nadene Catterick won the money alongside four of her neighbours. The 53-year-old decided to cancel her back garden makeover, saying that she will get a home extension instead to accommodate her entire family.
In August, a mum from Blaydon found out that she won £111,111 while she was watching Deadpool at the cinema. Christine Veitch, 33, had been at the movies with her husband Matthew to see the latest Marvel film, when heard the news, and the pair decided to take their two children on a family holiday using the money.
Christina Veitch won £111,111 on the Postcode Lottery
(Image: People’s Postcode Lottery)
Also in August, a newly-wed couple, who almost stopped playing after a previous win eight years ago, won £333,332, as Deborah Norris told her partner Paul Gilroy to cancel his ticket after bagging over £3,000 in 2016. NHS worker Paul, 53, of Gateshead, ignored his then wife-to-be – and the two went on to win twice more after their original success.
Then, in November, a Newcastle woman said she felt like she had a ‘guardian angel’ after she won £402, 919, during her battle with cancer. Innis Gamble, 69, was diagnosed with stage four skin cancer last year, and she scooped the largest share of a £3.2 million prize.
Innis was handed a golden envelope wearing her golden jumper
(Image: People’s Postcode Lottery)
Innis thanked her ‘guardian angel’ and her husband Dave for ‘saving her life’, with the couple now set to complete their bucket list, which they wanted to start with trips to New York and Thailand.
Finally, December saw the residents of a Newton Aycliffe street win a share of the £1m prize, with 12 neighbours on Newburn Court winning at least £58,823 each. Two doubled this amount by having two tickets, and another player tripled it to over £175,000 with three tickets.
David Coglan will be taking his wife Pat, of 47 years, on a Caribbean cruise after winning, and he said: “I’m a little bit emotional about it all, and my wife has always wanted to go on a cruise. All of a sudden, I love ships.
David Coglan, 74, who won part of a £1m People’s Postcode Lottery prize
(Image: People’s Postcode Lottery)
“I’m 74, but I turned into a 12-year-old and I got all giddy. We’re just pensioners, but now we’re pensioners with a healthy bank balance.”
For more information, and to get involved in the People’s Postcode Lottery yourself, visit the website here.