A GROUP of former colleagues from a Welsh steelworks are celebrating after scooping £1 million in the EuroMillions draw — a win that has brought them back together after years apart.
The 15-strong syndicate, made up of ex-finance staff at Tata Steel, landed the prize in the draw on Friday (Feb 27) after matching the Millionaire Maker code.
What began as a light-hearted workplace tradition has turned into a life-changing windfall — and a long-overdue reunion.
The group, dubbed the “Tata Steel Syndicate”, first started playing during long shifts in the finance department, pooling £5 each whenever the jackpot climbed above £100 million.
Even after leaving the company, members kept the tradition alive — staying in touch through emails, the occasional pint, and the hope that one day their numbers would come in.
That moment finally arrived when syndicate leader Paul Davy, aged 61, spotted the winning code.
He said: “I couldn’t believe it — a message just popped up on the app.
“I was checking Saturday’s draw when I saw the notification. I thought it must be an error, but then I saw the Millionaire Maker code. I was in complete shock.”
Paul, who has managed the syndicate for seven years, said he always treated the lottery as “a bit like donating to charity — with the chance of winning as a bonus”.
Now, the win is set to fund a host of dreams across the group, from clearing mortgages to once-in-a-lifetime holidays.
For Paul, that includes another cruise — despite initial nerves on his first.
He said: “My partner didn’t like the idea of boats at first, but we absolutely loved it. So another cruise is definitely on the cards — maybe the Mediterranean this time.”
While some members have stayed in touch over the years, the full group has not met up in person for a long time.
“This win has given us the perfect excuse to celebrate together properly,” Paul added.
Among those sharing in the prize are Gill Furlong, Christine Davies, Sally Wise, Julie Lambert, Allan Evans, Ian Howells and Raja Prasad.
The syndicate members — many of whom still live locally — are now planning how to spend their share, with priorities including home improvements, new cars, and helping family and friends.
The ticket was played via The National Lottery app, with the group winning through the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker draw.
