Jean Davies won £60,000 on the Postcode Lottery
Postcode lottery winner Jean Davies (R)(Image: Postcode Lottery)
A woman claimed her parents life went “downhill” from the day they won the Postcode Lottery. Devoted couple Jean and Brian Davies, from Billinge, wanted to change their lives with their winnings of £60,000 in October 2018.
However, they both died within months of each other and were never able to spend a single penny, reports the Mirror. Jean’s grandson helped to register her online but accidentally pressed the register button twice meaning she would pay £20 instead of £10 per month.
Paul told the 82-year-old he could re-register and cancel the extra payment but she told him not to worry. Jean’s neighbours also played the Postcode Lottery but, to her knowledge, none had won.
However two months after registering, Jean received an email to say she won in the Christmas draw. Jean and Brian, also 82, were delighted. It was reported by MailOnline that their daughter Gillian, who was 58 at the time, said: “Mum and Dad had never won anything before so it was a big surprise for them. They had no idea how much they’d won but they were thrilled nonetheless.”
A few days later they received the famous knock on the door and was told they won £60,000. It also turned out several of the couple’s neighbours won large amounts of money.
Gillian added: “Mum and Dad lived in an adapted bungalow due to Dad having lots of health issues. When Mum won the money, she planned to get more adaptions in the bungalow such as wooden flooring, a new kitchen and a new bathroom suite. She was excited about sprucing up the house.”
Postcode lottery winner Jean Davies (R)(Image: Postcode Lottery)
But Jean’s plans never happened. Shortly after the win Brian had a fall and started to suffer cognitive decline. Their youngest child, also named Brian, was diagnosed with throat cancer aged 52. With both Brian’s facing health struggles, the couple’s dreams were put on hold. In 2020, Jean was rushed to hospital with pneumonia.
In early 2020, Gillian’s half sister Susan spent time with Jean and Brian and helped organise their wills and applied for power of attorney to take control of their finances. Later that year, Gillian claimed that both she and Brian Jr had been written out of their parents’ wills.
Brian Jr died in August 2020. In November, the couple were split up with Brian being moved to Madison Court Care Home in St Helens. Jean was unable to visit her husband of 65 years due to Covid restrictions, leaving her desperately upset. The couple tried to get Brian home as Jean was worried about him.
Postcode lottery winner Jean Davies (R)(Image: Postcode Lottery)
MailOnline reported Gillian became concerned her father was being neglected and abused during his time at the care home. Jean went onto Granada TV anonymously in April 2022 to speak out against the alleged abuse. But she started to eat less and less due to the stress and utimately died on June 5, 2022. Brian died just a few months later on November 1, 2022.
Gillian has since launched legal action against the home and spent £23,000 in fees. She told MailOnline: “What happened to my dad in that care home is a whole separate story – one I’m still trying to piece together. All I can say now is that no human being should have suffered the way my dad did.”
She believes her parents lives should have changed for the better following their Postcode Lottery win. Gillian continued: “But it didn’t. Everything went downhill from that day. What should have been a joyous time of their lives most definitely wasn’t.” The Mirror has contacted Harbour Healthcare, which runs Madison Court Care Home for comment.