Latest news with #JamesMoughton
Metro
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Former cabbie swaps one-bed council flat for £4,000,000 beach home after raffle
A retired cab driver who won a £4 million beach pad said he used to drop people off at fancy houses and can't believe he now has his own. James Moughton, 71, scooped the incredible West Sussex property, plus £250,000 in cash, in the latest Omaze Million Pound House Draw. The four-bedroom home boasts three reception rooms, panoramic sea views, a guest house, direct beach access, a boat house, multiple terraces, an outdoor kitchen and BBQ area and a wood surround Skargards hot tub. James, who lives in a one-bedroom council flat in Hull, bought a £25 ticket in the hope of winning a house that would change his family's lives, but never thought it would become a reality. The ecstatic grandad said: 'I've got a daughter, a son and grandchildren— they're all over the moon for me. I can't wait to have all the family come and stay – everyday will feel like a holiday here. 'I'm from a council estate, but now I own a coastal paradise. I can't believe I'm going from a one-bedroom flat to a £4 million mansion! 'Things like this just don't happen to people where I come from. The last thing I won was a soft toy at the Hull Fair!' James revealed said he'd been having an uneventful and boring week before Omaze turned up at his home. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'I think the highlight had been nipping to the shops and avoiding getting sunburnt! 'Then all of a sudden I get a knock at the door and someone tells me I've won a prize—initially I thought it must be a wind-up! 'I was gobsmacked, I could've fallen through the floor! I went to see my daughter afterwards to crack open a bottle of fizz to celebrate!' He described the house as 'absolutely stunning', adding: 'The sea views are something else—it's literally right on the beach. 'I've even got a hot tub looking out across the sea—my grandson's going to love that. Now I've got the beach as my back garden, I think it's time I learnt to swim. My son said he's going to teach me, but I'll just dip my toes in for the time being'. In regards to its epic size, he joked, 'The dog shower in the garage is bigger than my current bathroom!' James, who spent 20 years driving a cab in Hull, added. 'When I was a cabbie, I used to drop people off at fancy homes—now I've got one of my own!' The house lies a short walk away from East Preston and Rustington, with its range of shops, cafes and wine bars. Angmering station, a little over a mile from the property, offers direct trains to London Victoria in around 90 minutes. As well as making James a millionaire, the Sussex house draw raised £4.1 million for the MND Association. Motor neurone disease (MND) is a fatal, rapidly progressing neurological disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, which in turn impacts how people walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. The MND Association focuses on improving access to care, research and campaigning for those people living with or affected by the condition. The cause is close to James's family's heart. Daughter, Katie, spent time working directly with people with MND and says she has seen at first hand the 'devastating' impact of the disease. James said: 'I'm thrilled Omaze has raised such a massive amount for the MND Association. 'I followed (late rugby player) Rob Burrow's story—what he went through was heartbreaking. It's wonderful that the money raised from this Draw will help others like him.' More Trending Tanya Curry, Chief Executive at the MND Association said: 'It's hard to put into words just how much the incredible amount raised means to all of us—it represents a real beacon of hope for the whole MND community. 'Since our partnership with Omaze began in May more than 300 people will have been told they have MND and at the same time they will have been told there is no treatment, there is no cure. 'The money raised will help us change that. Your generosity will help us rewrite what it means to be diagnosed with MND and start a revolution in MND research. 'Through the development of our Research Nurse Network many more people with MND will be empowered to access cutting edge clinical trials, paving the way for the breakthrough we are all so impatient to see.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: 'Where has the water gone?' Hosepipe ban comes into force for millions MORE: Yorkshire Water hosepipe ban may be in place until winter after incredibly dry spring MORE: Man stabbed through armour during historic re-enactment gone wrong
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Former Hull cabbie wins luxury £4m beachside property
A former cabbie from Hull says winning a luxury £4m beachside property in West Sussex and £250,000 in cash is "the best tip I've ever had". James Moughton, 71, entered a prize draw in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) for £ receiving the news, he said: "I can't believe I'm going from a one-bedroom council flat to a £4m mansion."Things like this just don't happen to people where I come from. The last thing I won was a soft toy at the Hull Fair," he added. His new coastal property, a short walk from East Preston and Rustington, boasts panoramic sea views with direct access to the beach, a hot tub and pizza oven, as well as a property, which was the prize in the latest Omaze Million Pound House Draw, also comes mortgage-free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered. Mr Moughton, who has been living off his pension and "watching the pennies", said: "It's a feeling I couldn't even have dreamed of before."When I was a cabbie, I used to drop people off at fancy homes—now I've got one of my own."The house is absolutely stunning. The sea views are something else—it's literally right on the beach, he said, adding the dog shower in the garage was bigger than his current bathroom."I've also got an outdoor pizza oven, not that I've ever used one before—but if Jamie Oliver can do it, so can I," he Moughton added it was probably a good time to learn to is now planning to get the whole family together for "a big seaside celebration". He said the births of his children and grandchildren were the "best days of my life", but added that this came a close second."I've no idea what I'll do long-term yet - but if I do decide to sell up and cash in, the money from the sale will change the lives of my family forever."The prize draw raised £4.1m for executive Tanya Curry said the funding "represents a real beacon of hope for the whole MND community"."Since our partnership with Omaze began in May more than 300 people will have been told they have MND and, at the same time, they will have been told there is no treatment, there is no cure."The money raised will help us change that," she added. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Click here to download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and here to download the BBC News app from Google Play for Android devices.
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
That's a fare prize! Ex-cabbie, 21, swaps one-bed council flat for £4m Omaze beachside home plus £250,000 cash - and he's already thinking about whether to sell it
A former cabbie has swapped a one-bed council flat for a £4million beachside home - for just £25. James Moughton, 71, won the keys to a luxurious beachside property in West Sussex in the latest Omaze Million Pound House Draw. He has now swapped his modest, cramped accommodation in Hull for panoramic sea views - and declared it 'the best tip I've ever had!' The 71-year-old will also have direct beach access from his four-bedroom home and a Skargards wood surround hot tub. His stunning new property comes mortgage-free and with all legal fees covered. The cabbie spent 20 years driving in Hull and has also been given a whopping £250,000 in cash to help him settle in. Mr Moughton, who bought his £4million winning entry for just £25 as part of his Omaze subscription, said he purchased the ticket in the hope of winning a house that would change his family's lives, but never thought it would ever become a reality. 'It's a feeling I couldn't even have dreamed of before,' he said. 'When I was a cabbie, I used to drop people off at fancy homes - now I've got one of my own.' He can decide whether to live in the house, rent it out for a supplementary income or sell it whenever he wishes to become a cash multi-millionaire. If he decides to keep the stunning property, it is estimated that the £250,000 would enable him to run the house for many years. If he decides to rent it out, local estate agents estimate that the property could achieve a long-term rental value of approximately £6,000 per month. He lives in his one-bedroom council flat in Hull, has two children, daughter Katie,28, and son Michael, 29, and a grandson, Kasper, three. Now he plans to bring the whole family together at the home for 'a big seaside celebration'. The ecstatic grandad said: 'I've got a daughter, a son and a grandchild - they're all over the moon for me. I can't wait to have the family come and stay - every day will feel like a holiday here. 'I'm from a council estate, but now I own a coastal paradise. I can't believe I'm going from a one-bedroom flat to a £4million mansion! Things like this just don't happen to people where I come from. The last thing I won was a soft toy at the Hull Fair. 'I used to be a cabbie and it's safe to say this is the best tip I've ever had! When I was working, I'd spend my days navigating traffic - now all I'll have to navigate is my best route to the hot tub.' The 71-year-old revealed what he'd been doing prior to his big win: 'I was having such an uneventful and boring week before Omaze turned up. I think the highlight had been nipping to the shops and avoiding getting sunburnt. 'Then all of a sudden I get a knock at the door and someone tells me I've won a prize - initially I thought it must be a wind-up! 'I was gobsmacked, I could've fallen through the floor! I went to see my daughter afterwards to crack open a bottle of fizz to celebrate.' The retired cabbie continued: 'The house is absolutely stunning. The sea views are something else - it's literally right on the beach. 'I've even got a hot tub looking out across the sea - my grandson's going to love that. Now I've got the beach as my back garden, I think it's time I learnt to swim. My son said he's going to teach me, but I'll just dip my toes in for the time being. 'The place is massive, especially compared to my little flat; the dog shower in the garage is bigger than my current bathroom. 'The births of my children and grandchild were the best days of my life, but winning this place is running it close.' The retired cabbie says the new house and money will 'change his life forever' and be a 'generational legacy' for his family. The 71-year-old revealed what he'd been doing prior to his big win: 'I was having such an uneventful and boring week before Omaze turned up' He said: 'I've no idea what I'll do long-term yet - but if I do decide to sell up and cash in, the money from the sale will change the lives of my family forever. 'Living on a pension, you're always watching the pennies. But now, for the first time in my life, I don't have to worry about money ever again - it'll be ice cold beers on the sun lounger from now on.' His striking beachside residence offers an enticing combination of contemporary luxury living and standout architectural features, including high ceilings, a feature fireplace, statement glazed roof and floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto south-facing terraces. The main residence provides a spacious layout with three reception rooms, including a first-floor living room with an integrated bar area offering breathtaking sea views. The expansive, triple-aspect kitchen features a central island breakfast bar and high-end appliances from Neff, Siemens, Bosch and Caple, with a separate utility room nearby. Outside, the property offers a south-facing garden, multiple terraces, an outdoor kitchen with an Ooni pizza oven and BBQ area, as well as a wood-surround Skargards hot tub. There is also a boathouse, an outdoor shower and private, gated access directly from the garden onto the pebble beach. A detached, self-contained guest studio with a bedroom and en suite bathroom sits above a double garage, which even includes a heated dog shower. Just a short walk away, East Preston and Rustington offer a range of shops, cafes and wine bars. Angmering station, a little over a mile from the property, provides direct trains to London Victoria in around 90 minutes. A few miles north lies the South Downs National Park, with extensive walking and cycling routes, including the famous South Downs Way. As well as making him a multimillionaire, the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, Sussex, raised £4.1 million for the MND Association. Motor neurone disease (MND) is a fatal, rapidly progressing neurological disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It affects how people walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. Around 5,000 people are living with MND in the UK at any one time. The MND Association is the only national charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland focused on improving access to care, research and campaigning for those people living with or affected by MND. The money raised will allow the Association to fund 24 MND research nurses for 28 months, ensuring sustained, high-quality research-led care bringing hope to families affected by MND. These nurses will open doors to clinical trials and research, offering people with MND a chance to be part of important breakthroughs. Tanya Curry, Chief Executive at the MND Association said: 'It's hard to put into words just how much the incredible amount raised means to all of us-it represents a real beacon of hope for the whole MND community. 'Since our partnership with Omaze began in May more than 300 people will have been told they have MND and at the same time they will have been told there is no treatment, there is no cure. 'The money raised will help us change that. Your generosity will help us rewrite what it means to be diagnosed with MND and start a revolution in MND research. 'This amazing partnership really will change lives.' James Oakes, President of Omaze, said: 'Everyone at Omaze is thrilled that James has won this beautiful beachside house in Sussex, whilst also contributing to the massive £4.1 million raised for the MND Association. 'Omaze offers people the chance to win spectacular houses, whilst also introducing charities to new audiences that they wouldn't normally reach. 'We're immensely proud that the Omaze Community has now raised over £97 million for good causes across the UK.' Draw entries for the latest Omaze Million Pound House Draw in Cheshire are available now at The Grand Prize Draw closes on Sunday 27th July 2025 for online entries and Tuesday 29th July 2025 for postal entries.
Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I used to drop people off at fancy homes - now I've got my own with Omaze win'
Former cabbie James Moughton, 71, won the £4million West Sussex house as well as £250,000 in cash after he bought his winning entry for just £25 as part of an Omaze subscription A former cabbie has been floored after winning a £4million mansion, saying the last thing he won was a "soft toy from Hull fair." James Moughton, 71, bagged the keys to a luxury West Sussex property in the latest Omaze Million Pound House Draw. He has since swapped his modest, cramped home in Hull for panoramic sea views, declaring it as "the best tip I've ever had." James will also have direct direct beach access from his four-bedroom home and a Skargards wood surround hot tub. His stunning new property comes mortgage free and with all legal fees covered. James, who spent 20 years driving a cab in Hull, has also been given a whopping £250,000 in cash to help him settle in. James, who bought his £4M winning entry for just £25 as part of his Omaze subscription, said he purchased the ticket in the hope of winning a house that would change his family's lives, but never thought it would ever become a reality. 'It's a feeling I couldn't even have dreamed of before,' he said. 'When I was a cabbie, I used to drop people off at fancy homes—now I've got one of my own." He can decide whether to live in the house, rent it out for a supplementary income or sell it whenever he wishes to become a cash multi-millionaire. If James decides to keep the stunning property, it is estimated that the £250,000 would enable him to run the house for many years. If he decides to rent it out, local estate agents estimate that the property could achieve a long-term rental value of approximately £6,000 per month. James, who lives in his one-bedroom council flat in Hull, has two children, daughter Katie,28, and son Michael,29, and a granddaughter Harper, 4 and grandson, Kasper, 3. Now he plans to bring the whole family together at the home for 'a big seaside celebration'. The ecstatic grandad said: 'I've got a daughter, a son and grandchildren— they're all over the moon for me. I can't wait to have the family come and stay - everyday will feel like a holiday here. I'm from a council estate, but now I own a coastal paradise. I can't believe I'm going from a one-bedroom flat to a £4 million mansion! Things like this just don't happen to people where I come from. The last thing I won was a soft toy at the Hull Fair. 'I used to be a cabbie and it's safe to say this is the best tip I've ever had! When I was working I'd spend my days navigating traffic—now all I'll have to navigate is my best route to the hot tub.' James revealed what he'd been doing prior to his big win: 'I was having such an uneventful and boring week before Omaze turned up—I think the highlight had been nipping to the shops and avoiding getting sunburnt. 'Then all of a sudden I get a knock at the door and someone tells me I've won a prize—initially I thought it must be a wind-up! I was gobsmacked, I could've fallen through the floor! I went to see my daughter afterwards to crack open a bottle of fizz to celebrate." The retired cabbie continued: 'The house is absolutely stunning. The sea views are something else—it's literally right on the beach. I've even got a hot tub looking out across the sea—my grandson's going to love that. Now I've got the beach as my back garden, I think it's time I learnt to swim. My son said he's going to teach me, but I'll just dip my toes in for the time being. 'The place is massive, especially compared to my little flat; the dog shower in the garage is bigger than my current bathroom. The births of my children and grandchildren were the best days of my life, but winning this place is running it close."
