Lottery win timely ahead of wedding

Apr 5 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

A STAND-UP comic and his wife-to-be have been given a timely boost weeks before their wedding in the shape of a £25,000 Postcode Lottery win.

Stefan Peddie, 35, and his American fiancee Becky Johnson, also 35, are to tie the knot at Newcastle’s Civic Centre next month.

And the couple spoke yesterday of their delight as they can now cover the costs of their wedding and have money to spare to renovate their home and treat their two children.

Former wrestler Mr Peddie said: “I couldn’t believe it when I heard, and I still can’t get my head around it.

“It will allow us to pay for the wedding and pay off our debts. We also want to do a little bit of home decorating.

“The reason I entered it is that it helps out a lot of local charities – we never expected to win.”

Mr Peddie and Miss Johnson, originally from Chicago, met while working on a summer camp in America some 17 years ago but when Stefan returned to the UK, they lost touch. Twelve years on, Miss Johnson typed Mr Peddie’s name into Google to find he was working as a stand-up.

Having been reunited, the relationship flourished.

The couple have two children from previous relationships – Owen, seven, and George, eight – and live in Ashley Close, Killingworth.

They said the wedding is to be a fairly low-key affair with a few friends and family, spilling from the Civic Centre to Gosforth’s Civic Hall. “My parents were going to help us out but I’m a proud Geordie and I’m glad we can cover it now,” said Mr Peddie.

“Now we can really treat the boys, and not have to worry about it. The first thing we are going to do is take them and the rest of our family and friends out for a slap-up meal, and really do some celebrating.”

Problems with Miss Johnson’s visa threatened to provide an obstacle to the wedding plans.

She explained: “It was just paperwork, but meant that I had to go back to the US last year, until it was sorted out.

“The trip meant that we had to get into debt, and we realised we couldn’t afford the wedding we wanted, or to get repairs done in our home that we really need. We are delighted with the money and it has come at the perfect time.”