Mine workers strike Lotto’s rich seam
By Effective Communication
A syndicate of mine workers struck a rich seam in the National Lottery draw on Saturday 5 June, scooping a Lotto win of £84,720.
The 25-strong syndicate are members of one shift at an opencast anthracite coal mine near Swansea, South Wales. They each take home a share of £3,388.80.
All the men drive or oversee the operation of giant-sized earth-moving machinery at Celtic Energy’s East Pit, Tairgwaith, high in the Amman Valley.
Syndicate leader, Malcolm Smith, who drives a monster truck with capacity for up to 130 tons said the money would be used among the group to buy everything from holidays to cars.
Malcolm said: “It’s a great sum to win; it means we can all afford something that may previously have been just out of reach. I’ll be taking a holiday to Jersey with my partner – it’ll be the first time I’ve been on a plane!”
The syndicate has been running since 63-year-old Malcolm began it four months ago. They play every Saturday, staking £1 each for 25 Lucky Dip combinations. If there’s a Rollover they have another go on the Wednesday.
Malcolm said: “If one of our members misses a payment they get a black mark in my little book; if they miss three on the trot they’re out of the syndicate. I’m glad to say that none missed out on this win.”
Malcolm, of Cilfrew, Neath, usually buys the Lotto ticket at a local newsagent in nearby Cadoxton but on this occasion he asked partner Ann Zieba to make the purchase.
He said: “She bought tickets from both a newsagent in Neath Market and from Tesco at Neath Abbey. Perhaps Ann is our lucky charm - I think it’s likely that she will be buying this weekend’s tickets.”
Malcolm and Ann found out about the win after a Saturday night out at Neath Working Mens Social Club. They had matched 5 numbers and the bonus ball.
Malcolm said: “Ann was so excited she couldn’t sleep. I nodded off straight away and phoned everyone in the syndicate on Sunday morning when I was fishing on a riverbank in Briton Ferry. I didn’t catch anything but I enjoyed revealing the good news.”
The syndicate’s winning ticket from Tesco at Neath Abbey. The winning numbers on Saturday 5 June were: 05, 22, 23, 24, 26, 29 and the bonus ball, 31. This Wednesday’s Rollover Lotto jackpot is an estimated £7 million.
