Life changing

Champagne spraying for Gloucester syndicate after EuroMillions win

A syndicate of seven colleagues from Gloucester have swapped paint spraying for Champagne spraying after winning on EuroMillions. The syndicate from Hanman Surface Technology (HST) won £284,508.40 meaning each member takes home an incredible £40,629.77.

Syndicate leader Stuart Fawson set up the syndicate seven years ago. A sprayer for the company, he checked their numbers via the red button on his television, and couldn't believe it when he realised they'd matched five numbers and one Lucky Star.

Stuart said, "The first thing that went through my head was that I had to tell everyone. I didn't have anyone's phone numbers so I had to go to one of my colleague's houses to ask him to contact everyone. After that, my phone didn't stop ringing.

"While we were waiting for Camelot to validate the win, I kept the ticket on me at all times! I don't know what I would have done if I'd lost it."

Fellow winner Kay Pegler said, "When Stuart rang, he was very quiet and my first thought was that it was going to be bad news. Then when he told me we'd won the Lottery, I couldn’t believe it. I knew it had to be true though because of his voice."

While Stuart still hasn't decided what he will be spending his winnings on, a couple of the syndicate are planning to head to New Zealand for the 2017 Lions' Tour.

Dave Starkey and Michelle Hanman were already saving for the trip of a lifetime when their numbers came up. Michelle said, "I'm a big rugby fan and I really wanted to go to New Zealand but just didn't think I'd be able to save enough. Now I can go and not have to worry."

The syndicate is made up of Stuart Fawson, Phil Tuck, Kay Pegler, Jason Matthews, Michelle Hanman and Lynn and Dave Starkey. For some, the win is the icing on the cake of an already special year as Stuart turns 50, Lynn 60 and she and her husband Dave celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary.

The National Lottery has been changing the lives of winners and supporting good causes across the UK since 1994. In that time, there have been more than 7,000 new millionaires created and by playing The National Lottery you raise over £4 million for Good Causes every dayΔ.

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