The small industrial town of Rhymney has two pubs, three chips shops… and a whole load of lottery winners.
Last May 435 of the 8,000 residents shared £3.7million.
Now Channel 4 has visited the town in the South Wales valleys to find out how the win changed the lives of locals, many who were struggling in the cost of living crisis.
Nine neighbours shared the biggest portion of the People’s Postcode Lottery prize, landing them £185,000 each.
One, retired steelworker Edward “Ted” Owen, had played with two tickets and waltzed off with £370,000. He made plans to buy a Jaguar and go on a cruise.
But the win was bittersweet for Ted after his wife died, robbing him of the chance to enjoy the fortune.
He said: “I wish my wife could have enjoyed it as well.
“She had cancer, she got over it and then it came back. She would have definitely bought a cruise.”
Former coal merchant David Price, nicknamed Lionhead, was one of the £185,000 winners.
Sadly he died three months later from heart failure at the age of 65 after battling sepsis and long Covid.
His niece Emma Taylor, 24, said of the moment they were told he had won: “It was like a Hollywood film.
“We both started crying when we saw the cheque. It was so exciting.
“So many people are struggling and to see his face light up was magical.
"I feel sad he never got to enjoy the win but before he passed away, he bought himself a quad bike.
“He also gave everyone in the family a share of the winnings. Nothing made him happier than giving people money and seeing their smile.”
Emma told how the residents had a street party to celebrate the win.
She added: “Everyone was so happy and excited.
“So many are struggling and things are going wrong.
“Suddenly Rhymney won the lottery and that has been crazy. It’s been nice to see so many people having big smiles on their faces.”
Mary Lewis, 54, and husband Simon won £8,000, which allowed them to go on their first UK holiday in 14 years after buying a touring caravan.
Simon works 70 hours a week as a lorry driver and Mary has been unable to do her job as a cleaner due to long Covid.
The mum-of-seven said every spare penny from her his wages is taken up by food and energy bills.
She said of their win: “I felt like a kid in the candy shop. We went to Devon and five of our children and two of our six grandchildren came with us. It was really special.”
One resident called Betty, 90, won £3,894. She said: “It will be a big help. I was really pleased, with the heating going up. A lot aren’t working who have won it.”
Janet and Ray Jenkins won £185,000. He had a stroke and the cash will help buy a wheelchair so he can be more independent.
Other winners included Lewis Lance, Lisa Scanlon, Gladys Kent and Mary Brooks.
Every day the People’s Postcode Lottery draw announces winners with anyone playing the game living in that area sharing the jackpot in return for a monthly £10 subscription.
The amount each winner receives varies based on whether they match all or some of the postcode, and how many tickets they play with.
It appears there was no jealousy among those in Rhymney’s NP22 5 area who did not take part in the lottery. Mary said: “Everyone was pleased for each other. The ones that won big deserved it.
“It’s helping them out at the height of the energy bills crisis.
“Winning this amount of money across the community has created such a nice buzz. People still can’t stop talking about it.”
“It’s great Channel four is making this documentary about us.”
- The Welsh Valley that won the Lottery airs next Saturday 28th January on Channel 4 at 6.05pm
Other towns to win big
Christmas came early in December for 718 people living in Goring-by-Sea who shared a whopping £16.9 million prize. Twelve of the neighbours in the full winning postcode of BN12 4TR scooped £379,062 for every ticket they played with.
In October 2022, 591 people in Mablethorpe celebrated after winning a share of £7.9 million. Meanwhile in November 2022, 987 players scooped a combined jackpot of £3.2 million in Rushden. Six neighbours collected £266,666 each.
