James thought it was a scam at first and even thought about calling the police
A man has seen his life forever changed after winning £450,000 after spending £30 on raffle tickets while at a pub quiz celebrating the end of his apprenticeship. James Manley’s legs ‘turned to jelly’ when he realised he had won a dream competition of nearly half a million pounds to buy his first property.
The 23-year-old had been working as a software developer apprentice for the last five years and was desperate to have his own space. James was living at home in Elephant & Castle, London, with his mum and dad, who both suffer from mobility issues, while balancing his work and intense studying, which left him feeling stressed and deflated.
On a whim, he decided to take a punt on a Tramway Path property competition after he read stories of real people getting their own bricks and mortar. “I was at a pub quiz with my workmates when I got the call to say I had won,” he said.
“I had my phone off, so that no one would think we were cheating. At half time, I turned my phone back on and saw a bunch of missed calls, and when it rang again, I finally answered. My legs turned to complete jelly when I heard the news.
“I thought it was a work call at first. When you’re entering these things, you never think you’re actually going to win, you just buy the tickets and get on with life. I was expecting them to say that my payment had failed or that there was an issue with my entry. I definitely didn’t expect to hear the words ‘You’re our lucky winner’.”
This was the third time James had entered the Tramway Path raffle. After hearing the news, James was so overwhelmed that he left the pub and rushed home to tell his parents the good news – though he later found out that his team also won the quiz and bagged a £50 bar tab.
James’ parents, Penny, 59, and Derek, 66, assumed it was a scam at first. James’ auntie, Maria, aged 68, even told him to call the police to report it. But after meeting with the brothers who run the competition – Jason, Will and Daniel Twenefour – reality set in.
Wanting to stay local and near his family, friends and work, James opted to take the £450,000 cash to find his first-ever home. He has just bought a two-bed flat that is on the same street as his parents. James said: “Jason, Will and Daniel told me to take my time in finding the right place and gave me great advice about the property world.
“Oddly enough, after going to viewings and seeing what I liked and didn’t like, I landed on a home that is on the same street as my parents’ place. It’s an incredible two-bed ground-floor apartment with a garden. I was starstruck when I won. It’s an amazing feeling.
“Anyone out there thinking about taking a chance should definitely give it a go. It might be you one day when the next competition comes around.”
Tramway Path is now taking entries for its next competition – where the winner can choose a two-bedroom apartment in Sidcup, South East London, or £400,000 in cash.
“It’s genuinely humbling and incredibly rewarding to be part of someone’s journey onto the property ladder.” Said Daniel Twenefour, Co-founder of Tramway Path. “We know how tough it can be for first-time buyers, especially young people who are working hard yet finding the housing market increasingly out of reach.
“Being able to give them a real chance, to open the door to a home of their own, is something we don’t take for granted.”
The entry is open until November 17, with tickets starting at £10 for 10 tickets.
