Newbury woman's £100k bombshell

Suzanne Chenery was presented with a cheque by Keith Chegwin after winning an American gaming company prize draw

‘OH my god' were the only words Newbury women Suzanne Chenery could manage when TV presenter Keith Chegwin barged through her office door and presented her with a life changing cheque for £100,000.

The 39-year-old's name was pulled out of the hat in the first UK prize draw of American gaming company, Publishers Clearing House, yesterday (Wednesday).

Former Multi Coloured Swap Shop presenter, Keith Chegwin, surprised the unsuspecting Miss Chenery at her work, Irun Limited at Grove Technology Park, Wantage, where she is a manager and website designer.

The excitable Chegwin had to wait a few more anxious moments before handing over the cheque because when the crew arrived Miss Chenery was in the toilet, to the amusement of the former GMTV presenter.

“I've hidden in some out of the way places before but I've never had to wait for someone to go to the toilet,” he said.

Upon receiving the cheque, a shocked Miss Chenery, who sings in Newbury rock band, Everlust, screamed ‘Oh my god'.

She said that her partner, Daryl Smith, who has a son called Phoenix, aged four, will now be able to move back to Newbury after taking up work in the Isles of Scilly with his painting and decorating business, Sandstone Decorating.

“It's made my year because it means my partner can come back home,” she said. “He had to take the work in Scilly Isles and was due to be there until March next year.”

The couple met in Kingsclere as teenagers but lost touch when Mr Smith, aged 39, moved to Cornwall with his family 15 years ago.

Miss Chenery said: “We found each other on Facebook last year and after one date he moved from Cornwall to Newbury to be with me.”

The amateur singer admits it's not the first competition she's entered but previously had no luck.

“I enter lots of prize draws and I play the lottery but I never win,” she said. “It just shows that you should never give up.

“As soon as the door barged open I thought ‘that's Keith Chegwin' but I assumed it was a surprise for someone else.

“Some of the money will go towards paying off some of our debts, I can also buy a nice car and put the rest towards a deposit for a house.

“I can also buy some music equipment for my band and I might buy some gym equipment because I like weightlifting.”

For more details, visit the Publishers Clearing House website below.

To watch a video of Miss Chenery receiving her £100,000 cheque click on the YouTube link below.