A lucky dad who won a £4 million mortgage-free house said he thought he was being pranked when he received the life-changing news.
Wayne Wood, 64, and his wife Catherine have been handed the keys to a beautiful Georgian villa in Bath, Somerset, along with £250,000 in cash after winning the latest Omaze prize draw.
Wayne recalls that his last victory was a cabbage he won in a 'meat draw' back in 1977.
From Cabbage to Mansion
The father-of-two from Loughborough, Leicestershire, said: "A £4 million mansion is quite the upgrade from a cabbage."
"I remember I was with my brass band friends on a trip somewhere up north in the 70s and we all entered a meat draw, buying a load of tickets for 2p each, and I ended up winning the cabbage, it's been a running joke ever since."
"It hasn't stopped me entering prize draws though, I'm a dreamer who always wanted to win a big house, that cabbage started my winning streak."
Initial Disbelief
Wayne, who lives with his wife of 18 years and their two teenage children, confessed he initially believed his Omaze prize win was a prank.
"I thought I was being 'punked' at first, so I didn't say anything to my wife until I was 100 per cent sure," he explained.
"I'm a bit of a dreamer, and I've always dreamed about winning big, especially a big house with a great view, and now it's actually happened, it's hard to comprehend.
"We have a very lovely life with beautiful children, but you've got to keep dreaming and not just settle for less."
Prize Details
If Wayne opts to keep the house, the £250,000 prize money is estimated to cover the running costs for many years to come.
Alternatively, if he decides to let the property, local agents suggest it could command a long-term rental income of between £9,000 and £10,000 each month.
Wayne, who works in marketing, has maintained an Omaze subscription for four years, something his wife Catherine, 53, wasn't even aware of.
"He would win little things here or there, but I've never really paid any attention, so even when he first messaged to say he might have won a prize, I just ignored it," she explained.
"Wayne has always dreamed big, which I love, but I've been more of a: 'yeah you do that and let me get the kids dinner ready,' but I'm grateful he had those dreams and guess I should believe in them more as they've all come true thanks to this win!"
The Property
The impressive Bath property, constructed in the early 1800s by renowned Bath architect John Pinch, boasts its own wine cellar, underfloor heating, a detached Coach House for visitors and beautifully landscaped gardens.
"Just last week we were on holiday visiting a UNESCO World Heritage site in Greece, and now we own a house in a UNESCO site - I can't believe it," he shared.
"We've never been to Bath before and didn't realise how beautiful this place is, and now we own one of the best houses here."
The property is entirely mortgage-free, with all stamp duty and legal costs paid for, alongside £140,000 worth of furnishings included.
Bridgerton Dreams
Catherine, an avid Bridgerton enthusiast, expressed her excitement about hosting gatherings and dinners in their new residence.
"I can't believe what an amazing venue the house will be to host parties in," she said. "Multiple fridges plus a wine cellar - this is going to be a party house. It's like something out of Bridgerton - I felt like I was on the Bridgerton set."
"Bridgerton is filmed in Bath and my sisters and I are big fans, so we're already thinking about having a Bridgerton themed party here. How perfect would that be?"
A Bittersweet Win
Wayne, who tragically lost his mother just last month, expressed how much he wished she could have witnessed his incredible win.
"I used to call her my 'one in a million' and now I've won this home which is worth millions, she would have loved it," he reflected.
"I wish she knew about this, maybe she did, maybe she's looking down on us, maybe she had something to do with this. If she was still here, she'd be ecstatic."
Omaze's Statement
Matt Pohlson, Founder and CEO of Omaze, commented: "Everyone at Omaze is delighted that Wayne and Catherine have won this beautiful home in Bath, whilst also supporting English Heritage.
"Omaze offers people the chance to win incredible prizes, whilst also introducing charities to new audiences that they wouldn't normally reach - it's a win-win for entrants and our charity partners."
"We're immensely proud that the Omaze Community has now raised over £150 million for good causes across the UK."
In addition to the guaranteed £1,000,000 generated through the draw, Omaze has also pledged - via a separate multi-year grant - an additional £3,500,000 to fund upcoming projects at Stonehenge - taking the total contribution to English Heritage to £4,500,000.
