Former Llanfair mum wins £500k Powys home and £50k cash in draw

A Llanfair Caereinion woman who now lives in Reading says she is looking forward to “returning to her Welsh roots” after winning a £500,000 country home in Powys and £50,000 cash!

Sarah Perry, 49, has won an Omaze £500,000 country home, and her husband Richard admits he was “flabbergasted” as he didn’t even know she had taken part in the draw.

She is now the proud owner of a contemporary three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Hay on Wye, and was notified of her win when she was preparing to visit family in Llanfair Caereinion.

Sarah said that Christmas had come early for her family, and her husband of 18 years, Richard, 54, had no idea she had entered the Omaze Great Escape House Draw £30-a-ticket prize draw.

He said: “I was more than a little surprised when Omaze turned up on the doorstep telling us we’d won something but it’s without doubt the best surprise we’ve ever had!”

An ecstatic Sarah said: “I got the call from Omaze and was a little dubious at first, you just never think you’ll be the one that wins something like this so my first instinct was it must be a windup.

“I just couldn’t believe it when Omaze arrived on the driveway and told me I’d won the house - I was shocked - but my husband was utterly flabbergasted as he had no idea I’d even entered! He said it was the best surprise we’ve ever had.”

“We’ve had a nice bottle of Welsh whisky in the cupboard for years, which would’ve been very appropriate to celebrate with but we didn’t have a chance to crack into it as due to all the excitement we’d forgotten to feed the kids! So, we ended up celebrating by going out for a lovely steak dinner instead.”

On returning to her Welsh roots, she said: “I'm from Wales and my family still live in Powys, I was actually on my way there to stay with my sister when Omaze came knocking. Now I’ve got this place, she can come and stay at our place for a change! Since I moved away, I try to get back as often as I can, and always dreamed of having a place here one day - this win means I can now return to my roots, it really is a dream come true!

“I work in London a lot - so to have such an amazing place in the countryside to escape to with my family, where I grew up, is fantastic - our sons are going to love all this space - who knows, they might even pick up the accent!

“All my family are over the moon about the fact I have a house here now, my farmer brother-in-law already has his eyes on the back meadow for his sheep!”

On her new house in Wales, she said: “The house is absolutely amazing, even nicer in real life. The main bedroom is huge, I’ve lived in flats that are smaller than that room! The views are just spectacular - this is what Wales is all about!”

“With all the snow today, the house looked like a Christmas card. When we walked up the drive and saw it, I had to check the date as I thought it was December 25th already! Christmas has certainly come early for us this year. We're still pinching ourselves - the whole thing is just so surreal!

“This win has changed our retirement plans, and definitely moved things forward a bit. The win and the £50,000 just takes the pressure off - and all for just £30!”

On Omaze's partnership with Scouts, she said: “I've been volunteering for the Scouts for seven years, and our sons have both been through Beavers and Cubs, with the oldest now in Scouts. The movement has had a really positive impact on them, so I'm thrilled Omaze is raising money for Scouts - they are a huge part of our lives.”

Sarah and Richard have two sons aged 13 and nine and have lived in their current house in Reading for 12 years. Sarah, who moved to England in her 20s, has worked as an accountant for 30 years. Richard, originally from Dorset, is a project manager and has worked in IT for the past 35 years.

Sarah’s 1,300 square foot property comes mortgage-free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered.

Mike Longden from Omaze, said: “Everyone at Omaze is delighted that Sarah has won our first home in Wales, and can enjoy returning to her roots. By offering this stunning rural retreat, along with £50,000 in cash, Omaze gives people the chance to win a life-changing prize, whilst also raising money for charities, such as Scouts.”

Draw entries for the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, the Wirral, are still available at www.omaze.co.uk. The draw closes this Sunday, November 24, for online entries and Tuesday, November 26, for postal entries.