Lauren Keene became the youngest Grand Prize winner in Omaze history this week – but previous contestant June Smith experienced the less glamorous side of winning
When June Smith discovered she had won a £4.5million waterfront home in Cornwall, the grandmother was staggered – and quickly called her family to tell them the news.
She’d triumphed in an Omaze Million Pound House Draw – and won a further £100,000 to help her settle into the huge property which boasts a home office, main sitting room with floor to ceiling glass, and a state-of-the-art kitchen.
But following just one visit, June, from Essex, decided to sell up – and neighbours said they didn’t blame her, as it would have been like living in a “fish bowl”. One local said: “You couldn’t pay me to move in there, it’d be like living in a goldfish bowl. It has stunning views of Fowey and the estuary, but that goes both ways. When you go across on the ferry you can see the bed and all the furniture through the windows. Plus, when the big china clay ships go by, they must have a fabulous view in.”
The Mirror looks back at June’s experience as a 24-year-old nanny becomes the youngest Omaze winner in history. Lauren Keene will hope her journey is smoother than June’s as she moves into the five-bedroom house in the Wirral, Merseyside. It comes complete with breathtaking coastal views, a cinema room and a heated outdoor swimming pool.
June did manage to sell her mansion quickly and found some solace in using the money to help her children and six grandchildren. Speaking after the neighbours compared the pad to a “fish bowl home”, June said: “I knew winning this house would be life changing for all my family, and that’s why I’ve decided to sell now, as I want to use the money to help all my children and grandchildren with the next chapter in their lives. The money is going to make such a huge difference to all of us.”
The widow told how she found out she won just as she turned on the TV to unwind on a Friday night last year. The retired bookkeeper rang her family – and then opened a bottle of red wine.
When June sold up, the listing on the estate agent’s website read: “A striking, state-of-the-art waterfront home commanding an elevated position over the Fowey Estuary with uninterrupted, panoramic views. Boasting a concrete landing stage with direct water access so you can literally ‘dip your toes in the water’, this elegant south-west facing six-bedroom modern waterfront home and separate annexe, provides luxury living of the highest standard.”
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