Grandmother's Cornish jackpot still ‘hard to believe’ after Omaze win (omaze)

June Smith, 77, says her 2023 omaze win — a six-bedroom, three-storey waterfront mansion overlooking the Fowey Estuary — is “still mind-boggling” nearly three years later. The widowed grandmother from Essex says the £4. 5-million prize has transformed her life and the futures of her children and grandchildren.

Omaze win announcement in Essex

June was settling in for a quiet Friday night in Essex when there was a knock at the door. “I honestly thought it was a wind-up, ” she recalled. “I remember just standing there thinking, this can’t be real. People like me don’t win things like that. ” She said the first thing she did was call her children and the second was open a nice bottle of red.

First reactions and emotions

Arriving at the elegant waterfront home above the Fowey Estuary left her emotional. June said: “I just stood there and thought, wow. Ron worked in architecture all his life – he would have absolutely loved this house. I really do feel like he played a part in the win somehow. He always wanted us to be safe and secure. ” June lost her husband Ron the year before she won; the couple had been partners for 43 years.

Family summer in Fowey

Before cashing in on the prize, June was determined to enjoy the Cornish way of life with her family for one unforgettable summer. She flew her eldest son and his family over from Australia, business class, and gathered her six grandchildren under one roof. “The last time we holidayed in Cornwall we were all squeezed into a caravan, ” she laughed. “Suddenly we were together in this incredible house overlooking the water. The grandchildren ran wild around the place and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It was the ultimate family holiday. ”

Days were spent strolling along the harbour, tucking into fish and chips on the quay, and popping into local pubs. “We did tea and scones the Cornish way, ” she said. “And I’ve grown fond of the odd Cornish pasty, though they just call them pasties here of course!”

Six-bedroom, three-storey mansion details

June’s prize was described as a spectacular six-bedroom, three-storey waterfront home in Fowey entered through the Omaze Million Pound House Draw in 2023. One account referred to the property as a 34. 5m waterfront home while contemporaneous coverage called it a £4. 5m prize. The house included features such as a stunning kitchen and a waterfront aspect overlooking the estuary.

Selling unlocked financial security

After that treasured summer, June later sold the property for millions, a decision she says unlocked life-changing financial security for her family. “Thanks to the money I also got with the house I could’ve easily kept it without a worry in the world. But selling the house meant I could help all my children with the next chapter of their lives, ” she said. She has been able to help them get on the property ladder, clear mortgages and take away everyday money worries.

June added that she has also been able to help start businesses for her children, giving them and her grandchildren previously unimaginable financial security. “Seeing the difference it’s made to them has been the best part of winning, plus I've still got plenty left for a rainy day!”

New home and future plans

June loved Cornwall so much she used part of the proceeds to buy another home in Fowey, where she now spends much of her time. The win has left her a mother of three and grandmother of six with new options and reduced financial strain across the family.

Nearly three years on from the 2023 omaze draw, June says the experience remains “mind-boggling” and that winning has made the security her late husband Ron always wanted for the family a reality.