A group of current and former Birmingham bus drivers are celebrating after their workplace lottery syndicate won more than £108,000 in the EuroMillions draw. The ‘On the Buses’ syndicate, based at National Express' Yardley Wood depot, matched five main numbers and one lucky star to win £108,510.50.
Syndicate Splits Prize Among 80 Members
The syndicate, which now has around 80 members including retired drivers, will split the prize equally, giving each player approximately £1,300. Syndicate leader Dennis Houghton, 73, said the win made him one of the most popular people at the depot.
“I’m suddenly Mr Popular. I can’t tell you how many pats on the back I’ve had since we discovered our nice little bonus,” Houghton said. “Everyone is so happy - but maybe not as happy as our gaffer who is relieved we didn't match all the numbers. If we had, Birmingham might well have been a little bit short on bus drivers!”
Discovery of the Win
Houghton was at home when he discovered the group's win in the May 22 draw after checking the National Lottery app. “While I heard the little bell confirm a win, I assumed I would see a few quid, but seeing all those thousands was quite a surprise,” he said. “I quickly called the first name that jumped into my head to share the news. My logic was, if the shock kills me someone else will know.” His phone was quickly flooded with calls from fellow syndicate members.
History of the Syndicate
The syndicate was formed in 2009 when a fellow driver approached Houghton and suggested colleagues pool their money for the EuroMillions draw. “After that one draw, word must have spread because the following week people arrived with their few quid wanting to join the syndicate, some I’d never even met before,” Houghton said. “I joke that it’s an accidental syndicate, what started out as an informal, ‘have a go’, with 24 of the drivers very quickly grew to an 80-strong syndicate with a waiting list and I had to quickly come up with a plan for managing it.”
How the Syndicate Operates
The group plays a mix of Lucky Dips and their own numbers every week, picked by Houghton at random from a jar containing the numbers 1-59 on individual bits of paper before every draw. Once bought, Houghton posts a copy of the ticket onto the syndicate’s Facebook page, where he shares news and updates. Over the years, players have come and gone, but many have continued to pay into the syndicate even after retirement.
“You always play hoping to win and while this is not exotic holiday winnings it’s a very nice little windfall for us all,” Houghton said. “Plus, it’s been great to celebrate this brilliant bit of good luck with everyone.” The winning ticket was one of two UK winning tickets that matched the five main numbers and one Lucky Star to scoop £108,510.50.
