The sibling of a victim from the notorious Great Train Robbery has won a substantial amount of money in the Postcode Lottery over 60 years after her brother was assaulted during the infamous heist in Britain.
Nancy Barkley, aged 80, received a significant portion of the £1 million prize, and intends to relocate from her rented residence to a new home with her husband, Colin. Working previously in a factory, Nancy expressed her thoughts about her late brother, David Whitby, who was the train fireman targeted by the infamous gang responsible for the 1963 robbery.
Residing in Crewe, Cheshire, Nancy shared her surprise at the unexpected win, stating she had never anticipated such a large amount, considering anything over £1,000 as a bonus. She, along with two neighbors, collectively won £1 million when their CW1 postcode was drawn for the lottery’s Millionaire Street prize. Each ticket held a value of £333,333. This windfall has an intriguing connection to one of Britain’s most notorious crimes.
During the Great Train Robbery on August 8, 1963, David Whitby, then a 25-year-old fireman on the Glasgow to London Royal Mail train, encountered the gang behind the heist. The robbery, which resulted in the theft of £2.6 million, an equivalent of over £50 million today, remains one of the most audacious crimes in British history.
Despite the gang’s notoriety, Nancy emphasized that the true victims, including her late brother and driver Jack Mills, have been overlooked. Reflecting on the traumatic event, she recounted how the robbers manipulated the signals to halt the train, leading to a series of violent encounters resulting in severe injuries for both David and Jack.
Both David and Jack suffered long-lasting consequences from the robbery, with Jack passing away in 1970 due to head injuries sustained during the attack, and David succumbing to a heart attack in 1972 at just 34 years old. Nancy criticized the glorification of the robbers, highlighting the lack of recognition for the victims over the years.
Decades later, railway authorities organized a memorial service in honor of the two men, leading to the installation of plaques at Crewe Railway Station and the naming of roads after David and Jack. Nancy expressed her gratitude for the belated recognition, emphasizing the importance of remembering the victims.
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