South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2005 | July | 29
From the Gazette, first published Friday 29th Jul 2005.
THE champagne was flowing in Chipping Sodbury this week as a group of eight women celebrated a big win on the National Lottery.
The octet scooped £49,000 on Saturday night's live draw by choosing five lucky numbers and the bonus ball.
They will each get £6,131 and the women, who all work at Lesanne clothes shop in Broad Street, intend to spend the money on some frivolous treats.
Owner Lesley Wood exclusively told the Gazette: "It is a big enough money that we can do something nice with but it will not be life changing.
"We are just very very happy and are talking about buying Gucci, gold and Rolex watches. We all want a memento of the occasion."
Shop worker Judith Beddow watched the BBC 1 lottery programme on Saturday incredulously as the syndicate group's five numbers appeared on screen. She had to ask her husband to check the ticket as she was so excited.
Lesley added: "The ticket was in the shop and there have been weeks when we have all been too busy to buy one, so Judith came in on Sunday morning to double-check.
"Coincidentally I had come in to do the VAT receipts. We met outside in the rain and she told me we had won. We did a little rain dance and went into the shop to drink some champagne.
"The receipts did not get done that day."
Lesley then called her six colleagues and asked them to come in for a special meeting on Monday. She prepared envelopes for all of them and wrote P45 in the corners of each.
"You could see there was a split second panic on each of the girls' faces but that soon turned to complete and utter amazement as they opened the envelopes."
The cheque arrived with the group on Monday morning, when more champagne was enjoyed and the festivities continued.
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