Twelve Corby bus drivers share £38m EuroMillions jackpot

A syndicate of 12 Stagecoach bus drivers from Corby, Northamptonshire, held the only ticket to match every number in the EuroMillions draw on Friday 16 March 2012. The jackpot was £38,034,639.70, which gave each member just over £3.1 million.

The drivers had played together for about three years, and their best result before then was £212 in 2011. Syndicate leader Chris Smith said they had been facing cuts to their shifts and that the money would make a real difference to everyone in the group. Some members said they were leaving their jobs, and some planned family holidays.

A former member had dropped out about six months earlier because she could not keep up the £2 weekly stake. She heard about the win while she was in hospital. One of the winners, Stephen Derrick, said that if the group chose to give her a share, it would be done privately.

The winners said they meant to stay in touch and meet up on the anniversary each year to celebrate.

Sources

• Channel 4 News (channel4.com)
• Euro-Millions.com (euro-millions.com)
• ITV News (archived) (web.archive.org)