Picture gallery: Staff at Co-op store in Great Bardfield share £2.4 million Lottery win
Sam Winter, Alice Jervis, James Naunton, Sue Markowicz, Andrew Watson and Stacey Moorish, all employees at the Great Bardfield Co-operative Food shop, collectively won the £2.4 million jackpot on February 13 along with two other employees not pictured. - Credit: Archant
TEN lucky workers from a village shop have scooped £2.4 million on the lottery.
The group from the Co-op food store in Great Bardfield near Braintree picked up almost a quarter of million pounds each after all six of their numbers came up last month.
But, incredibly, despite the massive windfall, none of the staff plan to give up work or to spend their money straightaway.
Shop worker, Andrew Watson, 22, said he and his colleagues were being “worryingly sensible” in the wake of their big win.
He said: “It’s all a bit mad and unreal at the moment and I’m just taking time for it to sink in.
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“When I heard we’d won, I thought about buying a new car or splashing out on a holiday. Then the day after the money was in my account I went down to Lakeside to buy a load of clothes, but I just didn’t want to. I wanted to keep the money.”
Mr Watson, from Great Dunmow, added: “The money has opened so many doors for me. I’m just going to let it sit in my bank account for six months, earn some interest and maybe look at property.”
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The 10 winners are part of a team of 22 staff at the shop in the heart of the picturesque village. And according to store manager, Sam Winter, the unlucky dozen, who had chosen not to join the consortium, are “genuinely pleased” for their workmates.
“We’ve had a great response from everyone. The customers keep coming in and giving us a hug. It’s been difficult to get on with work at times,” said mother-of-two Mrs Winter, 35, who is also a winner.
She added: “I know I’m bias but it couldn’t go to a nicer team. Everyone works so well together and we’ve won the Co Op’s’ regional community store prize for the last two years.
“We’re located in the centre of the village and get involved in raising money for all sorts of different local causes but at the moment we’re the focus of attention.”
