£7m winners vow to keep up the good work

The A1 Carers syndicate and Sir Geoff Hurst

1 October 2008

A syndicate of nine carers from Essex is celebrating after banking an incredible £7,005,142.10 share of last Friday’s massive £100 million EuroMillions mega-jackpot (26 September 2008).

The nine lucky ladies, who all work in the same residential care home in Upminster, have committed to keep up their good work – despite each winning over £778,000. They won their share of the EuroMillions jackpot after matching five main numbers and one Lucky Star number.

Barbara said: “All the girls have continued to do their shifts since we won. We can’t let our residents down, it’s not something you can do in this trade and we have reassured them all that despite the win we are here to stay.”

The group – who have dubbed themselves the A1 Carers, usually play Lotto together, but entered EuroMillions for the first time because of the special £100 million jackpot which had to be won that night. They also have the son of syndicate leader, Barbara Fogg (60) from Purfleet, to thank for nagging her into buying a ticket. The syndicate members did not find out they had won until Saturday, when they were all mysteriously called into work.

She revealed: “My son kept on at me about the £100 million jackpot, telling me it had to be won that night, until I thought I would call round the girls and see if they fancied having a go. They all agreed so I got the tickets on Friday morning.”

“I was a blubbering mess after checking the tickets and could barely call the National Lottery Line and Pat, the manager at the care home. She decided to call all of the girls into work and revealed the amazing news to them one by one. I then made an announcement to the residents and reassured them we wouldn’t be all leaving. They were overjoyed for us.“

After collecting their giant cheque on Monday morning, the lucky ladies returned to a huge surprise party at the care home laid on by the owner. The members of the nine-strong syndicate all work together looking after 15 ladies, three of whom are over 100 years old.

Barbara added: “It was fantastic, everybody from the residents to strangers we met at the service station on the way back from getting the cheque, have been so pleased for us and excited about hearing our plans for the win. They all want to shake our hand to try and get a little bit of luck.”

The syndicate is made up of care home manager, Pat Cogley (59); Susan Miles (55); Stephanie Davies (54); Anne Badenoch (51); Karen Vaughan (49); Mollie Sheridan (59); Susan Turner (43); Lee Hill (44); as well as syndicate leader, Barbara.

Barbara bought the syndicate’s winning EuroMillions ticket, which was a Lucky Dip®, from Meads of Purfleet. The winning EuroMillions numbers on Friday 26 September were 14, 29, 31, 33, 37 and the Lucky Star numbers were 1 and 2.

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