Malcolm Disson, 58, has won a £4 million mansion through the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, complete with its own lake, tennis court and two-bedroom cottage. The win came just two weeks after he won £8 on a lottery, leading him to believe his "luck was finally starting to turn."
The father-of-two, who was raised in London, won the Grade II listed six-bedroom property in Little Ouseburn, Yorkshire, along with £250,000 in cash. The house comes mortgage-free, with all stamp duty and legal fees paid, plus £155,000 worth of furnishings included.
From Dead Goldfish to £4m Mansion
Malcolm, who has two daughters, Lilly, 22, and Daisy, 18, said he had never thought of himself as a lucky person. "For years, the only thing I'd ever won was a goldfish at Hampstead Heath fair. And when I opened the bag it was already dead," he said.
"That set the tone for the next 46 years as I didn't win a sausage after that. Then two weeks ago I won £8 on a lottery and thought my luck was finally changing. I thought I'd peaked with that. I certainly didn't expect to go all the way from a dead goldfish to a £4 million mansion with its own lake... full of fish that are alive and well."
His winning entry cost £30 as part of his Omaze subscription.
A Reward for Taking a Risk
Three and a half decades ago, Malcolm was living in a three-bedroom terraced property in Watford. For the last 18 years, he has made Newbury his home, where he currently resides in a semi-detached property. He owns a border terrier named T-Bone.
In 2004, Malcolm co-founded The British Shop, a specialist company near Heathrow that handles fine art and antiques packing and international shipping. To launch the venture, he re-mortgaged his property, though he found himself unable to meet the repayments during the initial years, admitting the gamble nearly destroyed him financially.
"I took a huge risk starting the business. I remortgaged my house and for the first couple of years I couldn't afford the payments. It almost ruined me, but I stuck with it," Malcolm explained. "To go from a three-bed terrace in Watford to a £4 million house in Yorkshire in 35 years is just incredible. This feels like a reward for taking that risk and working so hard."
Surprise Visit and New Beginnings
When the Omaze team attempted to surprise Malcolm, they first visited his previous address. He had relocated but stayed within the same village, having failed to update his contact information.
Reflecting on what the prize means for his family, Malcolm said: "This win has transformed my daughters futures, it's a wonderful feeling to know they're going to be secure no matter what. It's taken any pressure off. I can think about relaxing a bit more and perhaps retiring earlier, but I love what I do and I don't think I'll ever stop working."
Having never previously set foot in Yorkshire before viewing his new home, Malcolm has since relished exploring York and is eagerly anticipating sampling the local pub scene. One friend has already playfully dubbed him the Earl of Tetley, a light-hearted nod to the famous tea brand with its roots in Yorkshire.
"I'd never been to Yorkshire before - what a way to visit for the first time, coming to your own £4 million house! I can't wait to try the local pubs, and beers," he commented. "I had tennis lessons as a kid and played quite a bit around 40 years ago, so I'll have to dust off my backhand and work on my serve. I can't believe I've got a potting shed and a library too - I haven't had much time to read, but I'll make time now. That's what this win will give me, more time to spend with family and loved ones."
Beyond transforming Malcolm into a multi-millionaire overnight, the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, Yorkshire, also raised vital funds for Blood Cancer UK. Entries for the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, Cotswolds, in aid of Cats Protection, are currently open at omaze.co.uk.
