Former milkman David Roper, 58, won a £4 million mansion in Surrey through an Omaze prize draw, complete with a tennis court, heated swimming pool, and five acres of land. Despite the life-changing win, he initially thought he had 'dreamt the whole thing' and told no one, not even buying a round at the pub after the call.
Winning moment and initial disbelief
David, from Lancashire, was looking forward to a pint of Guinness after a busy work week when the Omaze team called. 'It was just another busy Friday at work, all I was thinking about was getting to the pub for 5pm and a nice cold pint of Guinness. But then the Omaze team called me, and before I knew it I was the owner of a £4 million mansion,' he said. 'Winning did mean I was four hours late for the pub, but I was also £4 million up, so I can't complain. I didn't get a round in though, not because I didn't want to, but because I couldn't bring myself to tell anyone. I wasn't sure I hadn't just dreamt the whole thing, it felt so surreal I couldn't believe it myself. The only one there who knew was my dog Rosie. But I'll definitely get a round in now I've seen the place for myself and know it's one hundred percent real.'
Prize details and property features
The prize included the mansion valued at £4 million, plus £250,000 in cash and £170,000 worth of furnishings. The six-bedroom property, built in 1878, maintains Victorian character with red brick and red tile facade, sash windows, and a galleried staircase. It sits on five acres with a heated swimming pool, tennis court, formal gardens, meadow paddock, stables, barn, and garage. The location is less than three miles from Godalming and seven miles from Guildford.
David's background and reaction
David, who entered for just £50 through his Omaze subscription since 2022, launched his own milk delivery business at 21, later studied mechanical engineering, and worked as a mechanical engineer before moving into engineering sales 14 years ago. He and his wife Janny, 44, originally from Thailand, lived in a three-bedroom bungalow in Rotherham for 13 years with their rescued border collie Rosie.
After the win, David couldn't sleep until 5 a.m. and kept the news secret until his wife returned from a festival. 'She'd never even heard of Omaze, so she couldn't understand why they were giving us a multi-million-pound house. I showed her the pictures on my phone and she immediately loved it - but she loves it even more in real life,' he said.
Future plans
David plans to host family and friends, including a 'mini-Wimbledon' with his tennis-mad brother Kevin. 'I've got fantastic options available now, each one something I could never have imagined. I might even retire early, who knows. All I know is our future is secure and looking better than ever,' he said. Information about current draws is at omaze.co.uk.
