His success comes after his child failed to join the draw before neighbours divided £10.2 million amongst themselves
A retired site manager from Scotland has secured a £250,000 windfall in the Postcode Lottery after his son's bitter disappointment two years earlier prompted the family to take action.
Neil McGregor, 72, from Blairgowrie, landed the substantial prize when his postcode PH10 6XA was selected on Saturday for the monthly draw. His success comes after son Scott, 56, failed to join the lottery before neighbours in his Bridge of Earn street divided £10.2 million amongst themselves in April 2024.
The earlier draw saw 11 participants in Scott's Perthshire street each collect £340,000, marking Scotland's most substantial postcode lottery distribution to date. After watching from the sidelines, having intended to purchase a ticket but failing to complete the registration, Scott encouraged his parents to enter using their address situated 20 miles away.
The couple's initial response to the quarter-million-pound prize revealed the magnitude of the moment. Irene, 77, expressed her emotions candidly, telling the Daily Record: "I'm gonnae greet. That's quarter of a million."
Neil attributed their good fortune entirely to their son, remarking: "This is all because of our son. The street where he lives had a big win. He was going to buy a ticket and never got round to it, so he advised us to do it. So here we are!"
When questioned whether Scott would receive a portion of the winnings, Neil responded with a smile: "I would think so."
The lifelong Elvis Presley enthusiasts intend to return to Graceland in Memphis, having previously visited the iconic residence. Irene explained her devotion, saying: "I love Elvis, and I've always loved Elvis. I just think he's great. I'd like to go back and see Graceland and experience it again."
Initially hesitant about the lengthy flight, Irene reconsidered when informed she could travel first class, laughing: "It's just a long flight that bothers me. Maybe first class would help I'll do it for Elvis."
Scott's daughter, 19, currently working towards her driving licence, will benefit from the win. Neil noted: "My granddaughter's trying to pass her test. She needs an incentive for a car."
Residing across the street from the McGregors, Keith Gibb also claimed £250,000 merely days ahead of reaching his 70th birthday. The self-described golf enthusiast described his reaction: "It's unbelievable. These things just don't happen to me. I've never seen anything like this sort of money in my life before. I feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world."
The win followed an exceptional 12 months for Keith, who had established a personal target of completing 70 golf courses before his milestone birthday. Taking inspiration from a friend who played 60 rounds during his 60th year, Keith successfully finished his challenge at St Andrews a fortnight prior to the lottery draw, recording a score of 82 from the black tees under favourable conditions.
Additionally, Keith served as a volunteer marshal at The Renaissance Club during the Genesis Scottish Open between July 9 and 12. He managed scoring duties for Scottie Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick on one day, whilst accompanying Jon Rahm during Saturday's round.
He reflected: "It was amazing to actually walk the course with these guys. I had the pleasure of doing the scoring for all four days."
Keith's financial windfall will enable him to experience prestigious golf venues that were previously beyond his budget, including the renowned Scottish links courses at Royal Dornoch, Kingsbarns and North Berwick.
The lottery prize will also fund international travel to locations he has long hoped to visit, with Japan, Cambodia and the Caribbean featuring on his itinerary.
As a devoted Hearts supporter, Keith anticipates using a portion of his winnings to attend the club's away fixtures in European competition. He joked about the possibility, stating: "I'll probably take my kids on at least one of the away games if we last long enough."
The dual lottery success in Blairgowrie represents a remarkable outcome for residents of the small Perthshire town, with both winners sharing the same street.
