A former sergeant major has kicked off the new year in stunning fashion by bagging more than £100,000 in a huge Postcode Lottery win.
Paul Salt, from Greatstone, who manages New Romney Holiday Park, says his fortunes have turned after his wife Kay fell seriously ill on holiday last year.
The 74-year-old was among 19 people on Meehan Road in the coastal village to share the lottery’s £1 million Millionaire Street prize.
With each winning ticket being worth £38,461, he was able to treble his winnings to £115,383 after purchasing three tickets.
The ex-Army officer said: “I knew the Postcode Lottery were coming because they rang me and said I’d won something, but they kept the amount I’d won a secret.
“You just don’t think it’ll ever happen to you until it does.
“It feels like someone is squeezing my stomach – I’ve never had this sort of money before.”
In June, his wife Kay, 72, became critically ill just two days into their Tenerife holiday.
She ended up in a coma with Influenza A, along with Covid, leaving him terrified.
He said: “The worst thing was I dropped her off at the hospital and you were only allowed to visit for one hour each day. I walked in the next day and there’s Kay in a coma on a ventilator.”
Mr Salt says he had to prepare for the worst by making heart-wrenching phone calls to their family back home.
He said: “I took some pictures, and I contacted the kids. And said, ‘you need to look at this’ because when you fly over this is how you’re going to see Mum.”
They spent five and a half weeks abroad while doctors fought to save Kay, before she was finally flown home by air ambulance.
“It was a really bad year for us with my wife being so poorly, so this has really lifted us – it’s not a bad way to start 2026,” Mr Salt said.
Now recovering and back walking again after 60 days in bed, Kay greeted her husband’s win by telling him: “You’re not buying a new car.”
Yet, despite five heart bypasses, Mr Salt says he’s not slowing down and plans to return to Tenerife again – booking the same hotel and room.
The excited couple were eager to tell their daughters – Natalie and Rebecca – and their five grandchildren about their massive windfall.
We’re both in our 70s and this will be our retirement fund…
Mr Salt said: “They’ll be chuffed. We always help them out, but this means we’ll be able to do a bit more.
“It’s going to be a better year, definitely.
“We’re both in our 70s and this will be our retirement fund.”
The biggest jackpot winner, who wished to remain anonymous, scooped £153,844 while two others each won £76,922.
Other winners on Meehan Road
Mr Salt was delighted that his colleague and friend of 16 years, John Gould, had also scooped a prize of £38,461.
“I’m really happy for him. He deserves it – he’s worked here for 42 years. It’s nice winning alongside your mates,” he said.
Mr Gould will soon turn 80 but says he’s far from retiring – even after his big win.
“I have been working because I need to, but now I’m working because I want to,” he said.
Green-fingered Mr Gould’s first purchase will be for his much-loved garden.
“I’ve got quite a big garden, and I’d like to get a sit-on mower instead of pushing it,” he said.
Another £38,461 winner was Deanna Fernandez, 49, who recently booked a once-in-a-lifetime holiday to China with her husband Gary and their son.
The mum-of-one said: “My mate works for DialAFlight and we decided to just do it after putting money away every month.
“It’s so expensive, so it’s amazing to have that covered. We’ve never done a holiday like this.
“We’ve got a five-day tour booked to see Beijing, the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors and then we catch a bullet train down to Shanghai. It’s going to be epic.
“There’s [also] the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet just 20 minutes up the road, so I feel a bit of retail therapy coming.”
The People’s Postcode Lottery costs £12.25 a month to play and there are guaranteed winners every day. People play with their chosen postcode and are automatically entered into all draws.
