Rick Robinson, a 58-year-old veteran from Street, Somerset, has won £500,000 in the Postcode Lottery after initially forgetting that he had entered the draw. A former Royal Artillery soldier, Rick was stunned when he received a call informing him of his win, suspecting it was a prank due to his forgotten subscription.
Rick was awarded £250,000 for each of his two winning tickets, making a total of half a million pounds. He only realised the prize was genuine after checking his bank account and confirming the direct debit for the lottery.
“I totally forgot that I was still playing,” Rick explained. “At first, I thought it was a joke when someone called claiming to be from the Postcode Lottery saying ‘You’ve won a prize’. I thought, ‘No, I haven’t’. When I put the phone down, I immediately checked my banking app and realised it was real.”
READ MORE: GP Reveals Six Household Items She Avoids to Lower Cancer Risk
Rick was one of eight winners on the BA16 0LW postcode area in Street near Glastonbury. Collectively, the local winners have received £2.25 million, with each holding tickets worth £250,000.
He and his wife Sharon, 56, were visibly shaken when presented with twin cheques by the Postcode Lottery team. Rick described the experience as “insane” and “an absolutely incredible amount of money,” while Sharon quipped, “Someone will need to scrape me up off the floor.”
Rick served in the Army from 1985 with the 19th Regiment Royal Artillery, also known as the Highland Gunners, spending much of his time in Dortmund, Germany. After six and a half years, including service in a special operations troop, he left the military to spend more time with his family.
Following his service, Rick pursued a career in warehousing, eventually becoming a warehouse operations manager. His post-lottery plans now beautifully contrast with his past roles, as he considers more leisurely pursuits such as travelling with Sharon to places like the Scottish Highlands, which he visited during his military days, and the Brecon Beacons.
Rick and Sharon have four children and four grandchildren, with a fifth grandchild expected later this year. Their youngest daughter, Rosie, is due to have her first child in November. Rick anticipates that sharing the news of their monumental win with family may be met with disbelief.
Despite his significant win, Rick hasn’t decided to retire just yet, explaining that work helps keep him mentally and physically active. However, the prize has already secured their financial future.
Nearby in Street, another winner, retired accountant Tel Hayes, 77, and his wife Morveen, 81, also celebrated a £250,000 prize. The couple expressed their astonishment and delight, with plans to upgrade their upcoming cruise through the Norwegian Fjords thanks to their windfall.
Tel humorously said he looked forward to creating spreadsheets to manage the new finances, and the couple marked their 30th wedding anniversary alongside their lottery win, calling it a truly memorable weekend.
Additional winners on the same postcode included John Sturgess, 53, Sally Norton, 68, and Edward Sprake, 54, who received their news during a video call with lottery ambassador Matt Johnson.
The Postcode Lottery continues to bring exciting changes to the lives of local residents, rewarding their participation with life-changing prizes.