Greater Manchester street wins big on People's Postcode Lottery

A car salesman from Stockport who scooped a huge lottery jackpot has revealed how he plans to spend his winnings.

Fraser Macleod was shocked to discover he had bagged a whopping £111,111 earlier this month - planning to use the cash to play the top 100 golf courses across the UK and Ireland.

With 58 courses already completed, the prize will help Fraser tackle the remaining ones on his list, including the prestigious Trump International Golf Links near Aberdeen.

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The 32-year-old, of Stockport, said: “My thing is golf. I’m ticking off the top 100 golf courses in the UK and Ireland. I’ve done 58 so far, with another 42 to go.

“Trump Aberdeen is probably the one I want to do most. When the weather’s better I’ll treat the lads to a nice round of golf there. Royal Birkdale is my favourite and I’m trying to become a member there.”

Fraser celebrated his windfall with eight neighbours in Stockport after SK7 5QY scooped the People’s Postcode Lottery’s weekly £1m Millionaire Street prize on November 2. Every ticket was worth £111,111.

And it could mean making another dream come true: trading his semi for a secluded house in the country, if his partner Laura Spanton, 35, agrees.

Pulling out his cheque as he cuddled his cocker spaniel, Pepsi, Fraser said: “There you go, Pepsi. This has made my day. Thank you very, very much.

"I just came back from a break in Wales yesterday and then you guys pitch up with a cheque for £111,111. For me this means more freedom. I can get the house of my dreams and continue with my life.

“The house is in the middle of nowhere with a bit of land for the dog. I’ve had the house I’m in for many years. It would be nice to move somewhere a bit more remote.

“It’s detached with just one neighbour and just over an acre of land with it. I fancy the solitude.”

Now he’s planning to view it in person after it caught his eye online – and he made the 50-minute journey to drive past it. He added: “I’ll speak to the missus again and, as long as she’s on board, I don’t see why not.”

Fraser said marketing firm worker Laura won’t be looking for any designer trinkets with his winnings. He said: “She’s the complete opposite. She said that whatever I won I was to get her a cup of tea.”

But there will be other treats. He said: “I can get a nice holiday, too. I’ll maybe go to Barbados when it’s not the rainy season. My sister’s been many times, and she said it’s lovely. I can also buy a lot of nicer presents this Christmas.”

Fraser told how Guide Dogs, supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, is his favourite charity after a family friend lost their eyes in an accident several years ago.

He said: “I have always thought the worst thing would be to lose your sight. Guide Dogs is very close to my heart. One of my mum’s friends lost both their eyes in a car crash and I thought it would be good to support the charity. He was only young…mid 20s. It’s amazing that you can win, and charities get their share as well.”

Fraser later hugged his old golf club pal, great grandad Richard Gajewski, 71, after discovering that he had also won £111,111.

Richard said: “We’ve known each other for 20 plus years. I used to be the junior organiser at the golf club and Fraser was one of the juniors. It’s fantastic to win together. I’m so chuffed for him. He could have taught me golf, he’s that good. I will be knocking at his door and asking if he is coming for a pint.”

Fraser laughed: “I’m always up for a pint, so definitely. The more neighbours the merrier, especially with that sort of money. It can change a lot of lives. I’ll catch up with them later and hopefully share a glass or two. You never think your street is going to be the one.”

Richard and his partner Shirley Read, 68, embraced each other when his prize was revealed – as their neighbours opposite gave them a round of applause.

Now the couple will use the cash to inject some joy intro their lives after suffering ill health. Retired Richard said: “This is like a whirlwind. We’re pensioners and I worked all my life as a mental health nurse and Shirley was a carer.

“I got heart disease 10 years ago and Shirley has been having problems with her back. But this is amazing. There are a couple of things we want to do with the house. We’ll need to sit down, have a cup of tea and think about it.”

Retired Shirley added: “We’ve never had that much money. It is a lot of security…that’s what it means. We can get people in to do things we can’t do any more. I love my garden, but I can’t manage it any more so we’ll get someone for that.”

The couple – who share six children, 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren – may also treat themselves to a new car. Richard said: “I might be changing my car. I’d like a smaller car, economical. I might ask Fraser because he deals with cars.”

Further along the road, Lee Ungers, 31, told how he wants to build an extension on his three-bedroom semi for his growing family. And he and pharmacy technician wife Anna, 34, may treat themselves to a proper honeymoon after marrying during lockdown.

The dad-of-two said: “I don’t know what to say. It’s very surreal. The whole experience is mind-blowing. This means loads.

“We’ve wanted a side and rear extension for ages and this will definitely help with that. We don’t have family nearby, so whenever they come we need room for them.

“There’ll be a couple of holidays in there as well. My wife has asked for the Maldives for the past five years. Now I imagine she’ll have her way.

“My daughter’s five and this year was her first time abroad. She loved it and already has it in her mind that she’s going again, so I couldn’t disappoint.”

He added: “We had our wedding during Covid and didn’t get a proper honeymoon. The kids definitely won’t be on the honeymoon.” The neighbours all started playing Postcode Lottery to support local, national and international charities.

Winner Richard summed it up for everyone: “The charity aspect of People’s Postcode Lottery is everything. That’s what you do it for. You don’t expect to win money like this.”

But, because of the Stockport win, a string of local charities will receive a funding boost. One local organisation, Smart Works Greater Manchester, has been awarded £40,000 by Postcode Community Trust.

The charity exists to support and empower all unemployed women aged 16 to 66 to secure a job, by providing free high-quality clothing and interview coaching to build their confidence and employment skills.

Since opening in 2015, Smart Works Greater Manchester has supported over 4,500 individual women, with 65 per cent succeeding in job interviews.

Lisa Howarth, head of Smart Works Greater Manchester, said: “Our clients apply for an average of 30 jobs before getting an interview, spending 23 hours a week applying for jobs, and 40 per cent were out of work for over a year.

“All of them demonstrate significant potential and determination to succeed, and the Smart Works service has the ability to help them tap into this potential and transform their lives.”

She added: “We receive no central government funding, relying completely on grants and donations to keep the service going, and this critical new funding will help us keep the doors to our service wide open, maintaining our community outreach to realise our target of supporting 5,000 women by March 2025.”

Josie Starling, 65, hugely benefitted from the service and now also acts as a client champion for the charity across Greater Manchester.

Josie said: “I was a carer for my brother who had Down’s syndrome and dementia, and after he passed, I was completely lost. I had no idea what job I could do after dedicating myself completely to one person.

“The first thing I said when I walked through the doors of Smart Works was ‘who’s going to want me?’ I was devoid of confidence. The team took me in, built me back up, helped me into employment and I’ve never left. They work wonders and I’m proud of where I’ve come.”