20/03/2012

Bus Driver Syndicate Share Euromillions Win

A group of bus drivers from Northamptonshire who won Friday's Euromillions jackpot have collected their £38m cheque.

The 12 men, all employees of Stagecoach, have said the “life changing” win has come as they faced cuts at work.

Having played the same number since they began the syndicate three years ago they won a total of £38,034,639.70, which leaves them with just over £3,169,553 each.

"On Friday my partner checked half our numbers and I checked the other half," said Chris Smith, leader of the syndicate.

"She just passed the winning ticket over and paused the TV on the numbers.

"We kept looking at it and passing it between each other about four or five times. We couldn't really believe that they all matched."

"By 1am, my house was full of bus drivers and their partners all drinking tea," he said.

"It wasn't until the early hours that we realised it was just one winning ticket."

None of the men went to work the Saturday following the win and some have said they do not intend to go back.

The 11 members of the syndicate who arrived to collect their winnings are; Chris Smith, 34, John Noakes, 49, Stephen Derrick, 53, Dave Mead, 54, Charlie Gillion, 65, Jim Patton, 55, Neil Tayton, 58, Alex Robertson, 57, Ally Spence, 57, Charlie Connor, 40 and Derek Wilson, 51.

The 12th winner did not want publicity.

(H)


Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

10 September 2015
Bus Operators To Share Clean Bus Technology Funds
Funding is being offered to bus operators across England to equip buses with emission cutting technology and offer passengers better journeys.
11 February 2015
London Bus Drivers Postpone Strike Action
Planned strike action by London bus drivers has been postponed as an "act of goodwill". The strike action was due to take place on Friday and Monday, with drivers walking out across the city's 18 bus companies. Unite the union has called on the bus companies to accept an invitation for talks.
24 June 2004
England to wear black armbands in memory of murdered fan
The England team will wear black armbands in memory of murdered England fan Stephen Smith when they play Portugal in the Euro 2004 quarter-final tonight. Stephen Smith, 28, from Wolverhampton, died after being stabbed in the chest in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
01 April 2004
University top-up fees proposals win Commons approval
The government's flagship proposals on university top-up fees have passed through the Commons, after the anticipated backbench backlash failed to materialise.
01 March 2013
Lib Dems Win Eastleigh By-Election
The Conservative party has been pushed into third place in the Eastleigh by-election, behind the Liberal Democrats and the UK Independence Party. Liberal Democrat Mike Thornton won the by-election in what Nick Clegg described as a "stunning victory", secured "against the odds".