PLUMBER’S FLUSH! 

• Tradesman lands huge £333,333 windfall on his lunch break
• John, 62, now plotting epic spending spree - but won’t retire
• Another winner says ‘every day’s a blessing’ after her big win
• Trio of neighbours in Heathfield, East Sussex, share £1m pot 

A PLUMBER has told how his ‘life has changed forever’ after winning £333,333 with People’s Postcode Lottery - on his lunch break.

John Fearman, 62, had nipped away from a job to grab a quick bite when he spotted the famous red jackets and a camera crew at the end of his street.  

Within minutes, the unsuspecting tradesman was clutching a golden envelope and staring in disbelief at his stunning prize.  

John says he now plans to replace his old, broken-down work van with a brand-new one – and finally tick off a few dream holidays from his wish list, including Barcelona, Vietnam and New Zealand.   

John, of Heathfield, East Sussex, said: “I’d just walked in and thought I’d grab a quick bite to eat before heading out again. Then I saw a few people in red coats, and I thought, ‘What’s going on?’ Then they came up and said they were from the Postcode Lottery.  

“I honestly thought someone was winding me up. When they told me I’d won, I was completely blown away. I couldn’t speak.

“You work hard all your life; you don’t expect something like this to happen. But it has. And it’s changed everything.”

John and two neighbours in Heathfield shared the lottery’s £1m Millionaire Street prize when TN21 8AP was announced as the winner on Monday 17 November. Each winning ticket was worth £333,333. 

It’s the first postcode to win £1 million this week, and a further six postcodes will win the same stunning prize each day. A winning postcode will be announced every day up to and including Sunday 23 November.  

And for the hard-working plumber - who’s been playing the lottery for over a decade - the win's come just in time.

John said: “I’ve been doing the Postcode Lottery for about eleven years now. And I was honestly going to give it up last month! I thought, ‘Oh, it’s been years, and I’ve never won anything big.’

“But I always liked that it supports charities - that’s why I stuck with it. Then this happens! It’s amazing. It just proves you never know what’s around the corner.” 

John said the win will make a ‘massive difference’ to his life.

He said: “Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be this. It’s absolutely mind-blowing.”

“It’s life-changing, really. Like everyone, I’ve had my fair share of bad luck - my van broke down earlier this year, and work’s been tough at times. But this sorts all that out and more.  

“I definitely need a work van. That’s top priority. Then a car, maybe a few holidays and a new bathroom. It’s embarrassing really, being a plumber and not having my own bathroom done!”

And John’s plans for 2026 have just been super-charged. He said: “In 2026, I’m going to start with a new van for work, a new car and a new bathroom. I’ll get the garden looking lovely, head to Barcelona because I’ve never been, and go back to New Zealand. It’s my favourite place in the world.  

“I’d love to visit Vietnam, too. And maybe I’ll treat myself to a new stereo and some clothes, since I’ve lost three and a half stone. Oh, and a classic car - why not?”

Although the money could mean an early retirement, John says he’s not ready to hang up his tools just yet.

He said: “I’ll still work for a bit. I love what I do, and I’m not quite ready to stop. It just makes life easier knowing you’ve got that bit of security.”

John said the best part was discovering that his neighbours had also won.

He said: “They’re brilliant people. It’s lovely to win alongside them. We all look out for each other here - it’s a great community.” 

The plumber, who’s known locally for his friendly manner and reliability, said he’s always been proud to play People’s Postcode Lottery because of its charitable work.

John said: “It’s not just about winning. It’s for charity, and that’s what made me join in the first place. It’s such a good cause, and now it’s given me something incredible in return. I’m just so grateful.”

At the end of the cul-de-sac, Angela West, 67, was also cheering her own £333,333 prize. And, after years of heartbreak and hardship, she says her life finally feels full of hope again. 

Angela was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer a decade ago, and was still recovering when her husband, Dean West, died from pancreatic cancer in 2020 aged 63.

She said: “After everything we’ve been through, I just feel so lucky to be here. Every day is a blessing. You realise money can’t buy your health, but this win will help me enjoy life a bit more and help my family too.”

Angela’s favourite number is three, and fittingly, she received £333,333 - exactly a third of the million-pound prize.

She said: “I’ve always said three’s my lucky number. Maybe I was right all along.”

Angela has been playing the Postcode Lottery for years but never expected a big win. She said: “I’ve only ever won a few tenners before. I even thought about giving it up. I’m glad I didn’t!”

Angela plans to bring in the New Year in spectacular style with flights to Thailand already booked with her partner Stephen Hutchinson, 70.  

Stephen said: “The whole idea of the holiday was that we need to live now while we’re fit and able. We always wanted to travel somewhere distant together, we might never do it again, but we want to see lots of places and enjoy life together.”  

He added: “All good things come to those who wait, and everybody deserves a break now and again. She really deserves some luck and I’m so delighted for her.”  

Reflecting on her journey, Angela added: “I’ve had a lot of bad luck in my life, but this is something good at last.” 

The retired mother-of-two has five grandchildren and says she plans to spend carefully.

She said: “I’ve struggled most of my life, so I’ll probably save most of it and help my children. I never waste money.”

Players of People’s Postcode Lottery provide millions of pounds in funding each year to charities across Britain, including Breast Cancer Now - a cause close to Angela’s heart.

She said: “I’m happy to know I’ve helped charities by playing. And now it’s come back around in the most amazing way. It’s the best Christmas present I could ever have.”

How it works  

People’s Postcode Lottery costs £12.25 a month to play and there are guaranteed winners every day. People play with their chosen postcode and are automatically entered into all draws.

A massive £38.2 million prize pot must be won in December’s draws. Sign up closes at midnight on 30 November to play for a share.

Details of all the prizes players have the chance to win with a monthly subscription can be found here. 

Players can check if their postcode is a winner on People's Postcode Lottery's Lottery Results page. 

This prize was promoted on behalf of Postcode Care Trust which supports charities such as Breast Cancer Now, Alzheimer’s Society, Carers Trust and Maggie’s. 

-ENDS-           

For more information contact Postcode Lottery Communications team at  communications@postcodelottery.co.uk or call 0131 378 1329.            

Prize breakdown of £1 million

Three people won £333,333 (single ticket each)    

NOTES TO EDITORS            

People’s Postcode Lottery is an external lottery manager which operates charity lotteries on behalf of 20 independent Postcode Trusts. It is licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission. Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised more than £1.5 billion for thousands of charities and local good causes.           

Winning Millionaire Street locations are announced every Saturday. But in November, an additional seven postcodes will win Millionaire Street – announced every day of the week from Monday 17 November to Sunday 23 November.  

This means that following November’s Postcode Lottery draws, we will announce TEN Millionaire Street winning locations.

Heathfield is the third of those locations. Local charities in each of the ten winning areas will share a combined total of £1 million to support their work.          

Funds are raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery and awarded by Postcode Community Trust.          

Further information: https://www.postcodelottery.co.uk/good-causes