AN Old Kilpatrick gran nicknamed Mrs Christmas has promised her family they’ll have a jingle bell ball – after she shared a £1m lottery jackpot with 14 neighbours.
Emotional Elaine Cusick, 69, broke down after banking £66,666 – exactly a year after signing up for the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Elaine shared the dosh with those living next to her after G60 5NN landed the Postcode Lottery’s weekly Millionaire Street prize on Saturday, November 25.
Every neighbour living on Oronsay Crescent signed up to the subscription lotto received the same share of the prize pot ensuring it will be a Merry Christmas for the group.
Now the mum-of-two is planning to make the festive season a ho-ho-holiday to remember this year.
Elaine, who already has her semi-decked out in tinsel and baubles, said: “I can give all the family a great Christmas.
“I would have Christmas all year round if I could. But this year it will be amazing.
“During Covid, the first time we could get together was in July 2021, and I had Christmas in the garden. I did it all up.
“The family are all calling me Mrs Christmas.”
Husband Eddie, 61, added: “Our daughter Lynsey is hosting Christmas this year, but we’ll make sure the spread is all there for her.”
Near neighbour Kirsty Hughes’ partner Tony Melvin had no idea she had been playing Postcode Lottery for 12 years – until she phoned him at work to tell him she’d won.
Coincidentally at the time, Evri driver Tony, 47, was delivering a parcel to comedian and actor Jonathan Watson, who performed a spoof Postcode Lottery sketch on his Only An Excuse show in 2018.
Kirsty, 44, said: “He had no idea I even played the lottery. I signed up in 2011 and it’s something I always played, but just never mentioned it to him.”
Tony said: “Kirsty called me when I was delivering a parcel to Jonathan Watson who had done a parody of Postcode Lottery on Only An Excuse. I’m happy for her because she was so giddy.”
First Kirsty and Tony will plough on with a planned home extension to give them and their four kids more room.
Kirsty said: “We already have plans to extend the house. We have four kids and are a bit cramped. This will help.”
Down the road, James Pritchard wants to upgrade his Peugeot 5007 car and head to Spain to visit pals.
Senior quantity surveyor James, 57, said: “I’d like to buy a new car and I can feel Spain coming on. I’ve got friends over there.”
Dad-of-three James also plans to continue with his house improvements – after converting a downstairs family room and bedroom into Pritchy’s Bar 54 earlier this year. And he might add to his collection of 20 watches.
Speaking as he pulled a pint in his home boozer, he said: “I started this project in February and finished in March. It’s a great place to have friends round.”
He added: “I love my watches. But I’d feel guilty if I buy myself another one. I might look at one for my son’s Christmas.”
AA man John Carroll, 58, saw his winnings then joked: “This is getting me jump-started.”
Now he is dreaming of a trip to watch his favourite American football team, Arizona Cardinals, in action at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, near Phoenix.
The dad-of-two, who celebrated with dinner lady wife Susan, 60, said: “I like American football and have liked the Cardinals since I watched a TV programme about them.
“Mind you, maybe this isn’t the best time to go and see them when they’ve lost nine and won two.”
A few doors along, Richard Black wants a return trip to Japan after falling in love with the country on a break last year with pharmacy technician wife Lorna, 60, and student son Cameron, 23.
Excavator driver Richard, 59, said: “We had a great holiday in Japan last year and want to go back.”
He added: “I signed up for People’s Postcode Lottery to give local charities some money.”
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