STUNNED Powys resident Kevin Jones celebrated becoming a millionaire after winning the People’s Postcode Lottery’s biggest ever prize – then revealed his dad predicted it.
Kev, 58, was left speechless after scooping a record £1,210,914 jackpot in the lottery’s monthly Postcode Millions draw for January.
The Llandrindod Wells resident then told how his stepdad John Davies, 79, called him the night before to tell him he’d win big – despite Kev’s protests that his prize would be a maximum of £2,000.
“My dad said to me yesterday ‘Get a Bentley and show them’. I said ‘I’m only going to get a grand, dad, or a couple of grand at the most’. But he said ‘No, it’s your turn now’.
“The thing is, my dad is never far off from being right. Now I might just rent a Bentley and take him out for the day. I don’t need much. I always say, it’s the simple things in life.”
He won the mammoth jackpot after being the only player in the full winning postcode of LD1 5HR. Each ticket was worth £403,638 – but Kev tripled that by playing with three, which saw him win over £1.2 million.
He shared the joy with 407 other Powys players who also banked cash prizes – ranging from £4,305 to £17,220 – in the buzzing Victorian spa town’s wider postcode sector of LD1 5, which made up the rest of the overall £3.2m pot.
Unemployed Kev now plans to kickstart a new life by quitting his top floor flat and fulfil his dream of moving to a plush chalet in the nearby Sunny Haven Park, between Llandrindod and Builth Wells, so he can get a garden again.
The petrolhead is also planning a trip to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone to celebrate his 59th birthday in July, as well as first trip to Anfield to watch his beloved Liverpool.
Kev, who suffers from emphysema and sleep apnoea, said: “I’ve been dreaming about the chalets for a long time.
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“Every time I pass the place, I imagine living there. It’s nice and quiet and I’m sure the people would be really friendly.
“I’ve always loved my garden and, since I’ve been here, I’ve not had one. That would give me one again. Now my dream can come true.
“It would be good for me. I don’t get out much. I’ve made this flat my little home.”
Kevin admitted he had goosebumps before ambassador Matt Johnson knocked on his door to reveal he was the biggest single winner in Postcode Lottery history – then exclaimed that he ‘felt greedy’.
After he opened three envelopes, each containing a cheque for £403,638, he staggered back and said: “What? What? What? I was expecting like a grand. Oh my days. I don’t believe that. I’m speechless.”
The video went viral on Facebook following the revelation on Saturday, with plenty of fellow Powysians congratulating him on his momentous win.
“I never in the world expected that. I don’t believe this,” he added, visibly so shocked by the news that at one point it looked like he might faint, with Matt telling him: “I’ve got you.”
“It means the world to me. I can do some things for people with this.
“I’ll help out family and friends and find a charity. Thank you so much. I’m still in shock, but so grateful.
“I forgot all about the other two cheques after seeing the first one. I feel a bit greedy now, to be honest.
“You don’t ever think about winning, especially big money. Big money never happens.
“I never thought this would happen to me…never in a million years. I’m overwhelmed and in shock, but very, very thankful and grateful.
“It feels crazy, absolutely crazy. I didn’t know how it worked and never thought the amount would get anywhere near this.
“I’m also so excited for everyone else in the town that’s won. I’m so happy for them as well.”
There was a definite buzz about town on Saturday as the People’s Postcode Lottery took over Llandrindod’s Pavilion Mid Wales building on Spa Road. Winners queued up in their hundreds to claim their winning tickets, excitedly and happily posing with their cheques and speaking of their delight.
Kev walked to the Pavilion to celebrate with the 407 other winners. And, as he stood on the podium with a lit-up sculpture of the winning postcode, there were chants of “Kevin, Kevin, Kevin”.
Kev has vowed to take care of his family, including mum Theresa, 76, and younger brother Alun, 57.
The keen carp and pike fisherman is dad to two sons, aged 26 and 24, and a 30-year-old daughter who is pregnant with his fourth grandchild.
He said: “I’ll get advice and put some money into trust for them. I also want to help my brother with some home improvements. My brother has always been there for me. He’s a rock to me.”
Kev revealed he first signed up for Postcode Lottery to help smaller charities.
He said: “The Postcode Lottery is a great way of giving to charity. There are so many smaller charities included and some don’t get a lot of money.”
Postcode Lottery ambassador Matt said: “It was wonderful to be back on my home turf of Wales making history with our biggest ever winner.
“You could feel the electricity in the community as hundreds of players got the good news about their wins.”
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