Teachers and support staff at a Suffolk school enjoyed the perfect start to their half term holidays - a £1million lottery win.
The 23-strong syndicate from Brooklands Primary School in Brantham were said to have let out whoops of joy when they learned their numbers had come up on the EuroMillions Millionaire Raffle selection on Tuesday, October 21.
Each member will receive £43,478.26 and are said to be still reeling from their success.
School secretary and syndicate leader Helju Cross, 52, explained how news of the win slowly dawned on her.
“After I had bought the tickets for the draw on Tuesday evening I bumped into our head teacher, Christine,” she said.
“We had a joke about winning but didn’t really think much about it. The following day, I wasn’t working and with plans to go shopping in town my mother offered to give me a lift.
“I popped into the newsagent to have the tickets checked and was delighted that we’d won £6, then another £2 so imagine my surprise when I was told that our third winning ticket was too much to pay out there and then.
“I must have been in shock because when the shopkeeper asked if I’d like to check the numbers I said no and hurriedly left the shop planning on checking the numbers online”
Ms Cross quickly finished her errands and visited a coffee shop to check the winning numbers on her tablet, only to be distracted by a call from her mother,
“It was a complete farce,” she said,
“Every time I tried to check the numbers something else would happen so it wasn’t until I was in the car with my mother I could safely see what we had won.
“I was mortified when I saw the numbers didn’t match until I moved to the Millionaire Raffle selection and saw that the very first ticket had exactly the same combination.
“It was unbelievable but I just sat there mute because I thought it unwise to tell my elderly mother I’d won a share of a million pounds while she was behind the wheel!”
Having verified the win, Ms Cross immediately texted her colleagues at Brooklands Primary School and word quickly spread amongst the tight-knit team that they were in the money
By the time she arrived later in the afternoon with the winning ticket safely tucked in her handbag, confirming she had spoken to Camelot, the teachers and support staff let out whoops of joy.
Headteacher, Christine Davy, 36, said: “When Helju arrived, about 4.45pm, and said that Camelot had confirmed the win, there was plenty of shrieking.
“I think we actually gave our more boisterous Year 6 a run for their money! Since then it’s just been great. We are a really close, happy, hardworking team and being able to share this experience together has been the icing on the cake.”
For many, the money means exciting, and in some cases exotic, family holidays with destinations including Australia, Bali and Italy.
But whil e some are spending, others are saving.
Ken Dodd, 63, who has been teaching at Brooklands for a decade, said: “I’ve no plans to spend the money but it’s definitely a very welcome addition to my pension pot and gives me greater peace of mind. This has been an amazing experience and it’s been great seeing some of my younger colleagues’ reactions knowing that for them this is going to be truly life-changing.”
For more on Suffolk’s previous Lotto winners, see our gallery here
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