Lottery win for leisure centre staff (From Warrington Guardian)

Lottery win for leisure centre staff

12:23pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News

SIX lucky lottery winners said they screamed, shouted and ran around their homes after discovering they had scooped the jackpot.

Former and current staff from Great Sankey Leisure Centre won £2,101,359 in Saturday's draw after playing the same numbers since the National Lottery began in 1994.

Exotic holidays, mortgages being paid off and a new bathroom and kitchen are now being lined up for the group who were part of a syndicate of 10.

Former receptionist Joyce Ost, aged 74 and from Penketh, discovered the group had won on Saturday with her winning line made up of numbers including birthdays, anniversarys and children’s ages.

She said: “I checked the numbers about 10pm and couldn’t believe it.

“My husband said I must have got it wrong but then he checked too and I tried to ring Jane but there was no answer.

“I thought it was too late to try ringing anybody else and then I couldn’t sleep that night wondering if it was right or not.”

Great Sankey mum-of-two Jane Pidgeon, aged 49, has been looking after the syndicate in recent years after senior duty manager Kay Quigley, aged 48 and from Cinnamon Brow started it 18 years ago.

In that time the group have always played their numbers at the Great Sankey Co-op, Hawthorne Avenue, and picked up a handful of £10 wins before their biggest pay-out before last weekend came in at £48 a couple of weeks ago.

Former employees Greg Snape, aged 47, and Richard Davenport, aged 41, both from Great Sankey, said the news still had not sunk in.

Warrington Wolves south stand season ticket holder Richard added: “I won’t be moving anywhere else in the ground after winning but we have joked that I should get a section of the terrace carpeted off and waiter service.”

The happy group said everyone they had spoken to were ‘made up for them’.

Former receptionist Barbara McGonagle, aged 72, added: “Everyone has said it couldn't have happened to nicer people and they are really pleased for us.”