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Steelite staff celebrate £1m EuroMillions lottery win

23 April 2014

Teenager Cameryn Shingler has pocketed more than 10 years' worth of wages after winning a share of a £1 million jackpot.

The 17-year-old, an apprentice in the maintenance department of pottery manufacturer Steelite, received a £52,631.57 payout in the EuroMillions Millionaire Raffle.

He was one of 19 workers at the Middleport factory who won in a special draw last Friday.

The teenager, from Tunstall, was given the good news in a text message from colleague Dave Arrowsmith saying that his lottery win was the equivalent of 526 weeks' wages.

Former Stoke-on-Trent College student Cameryn, who has worked full-time with Steelite for 18 months, said: "I was in bed on a day off. When I got the message on the day I didn't believe it – a lot of my mates were green with envy.

"I've been part of the syndicate since I started with the company and the most I've won prior to this is £24, which is quite a difference."

Cameryn said he intends to start spending his winnings on a few more holidays.

He added: "It will also get me started when I need a deposit for a house. I'm going to Germany in July and I'm hoping to take some more trips next year."

The syndicate struck lucky after buying weekly tickets for four years.

Organiser Chris Heames, aged 52, of Wolstanton, said: "You never think that something like this would happen to you.

"A few years ago I won £100 on a game of bingo but that's about it really.

"This win is going to make a big difference to everyone's lives and it is really nice to be able to share this experience with my colleagues."

Chris, who has worked as a buildings maintenance worker for the company for 18 years, recalls the moment when eight Steelite workers scooped a £5,308,755 Lotto payout in November 2003.

The father-of-two said: "I remember the day when I came to work and found out some of my colleagues had won the lottery.

"I didn't think that one day I would be a winner myself.

"I checked the ticket on Saturday at 4am when I got up for work.

"It's normally one of the lads who checks the numbers but because I was up early, I thought I would give it a quick glance.

"When I saw that one of the codes on the tickets matched the one on screen, I couldn't believe it.

"I went upstairs and got my wife Wendy out of bed. She told me not to be daft but she came down and checked it just to be sure.

"When I told the lads at work, they were so excited.

"I kept the ticket in my wallet to keep it safe until we handed it in."

The winning ticket was bought at Harvey's Discount convenience store, in Morris Square, Wolstanton.

Grandfather-of-10 Dave Colclough, is planning to spend his winnings on driving lessons, after years of travelling to work on a motorcycle.

The 52-year-old of Tunstall, said: "When I got the call to say we had won a share of £1 million, I thought it's about time I won something. I have decided to use my winnings on some driving lessons after 30 years of riding a motorbike. "It gets a bit cold when you're riding a bike to work in the winter so I am going to buy myself a little car when I pass. I have got four children and they were all over the moon when they found out I had won. My son Ian is getting married on May 15 so I am going to give him a big cheque as a present. I will have worked at Steelite for four years tomorrow so this is a really nice way to celebrate."

Wendy Dean, group HR director, pictured left, said: "This fantastic windfall has really created a buzz around the factory. Everyone is absolutely delighted." The remaining workers wanted to remain anonymous.

What the Steelite Lottery winners said

Ray Green, aged 58, of Burslem, has worked at Steelite for 27 years.

When did you first hear about the win?

5.10am on the day. I was late coming into work and rung Chris Heames – the syndicate leader – to tell him that I was going to be late, and he said: 'Don't rush, because we've won the lottery', then his phone ran out of battery so I thought it was a wind-up or that we'd only won £20. But when I arrived at 5.25am, I knew it was true.

What are you planning to spend the money on?

I've been thinking about getting an extension on the top of my bungalow in order to have a nice little computer room. It'll be a nice sanctuary for myself, but I don't have any other plans for the money yet.

Have you ever won anything close to this amount before?

I think in 20 years the most we've won before is £70 – but you've got to be in it to win it and it's a good way of bringing employees closer together.

Do you see it as a life-changing amount of money?

Not really. I suppose it makes you think about retiring slightly earlier and the money would help with that.

Dad-of-five Dave Arrowsmith, aged 56, of Chesterton, has worked for the pottery manufacturer for 26 years.

Where were you when you heard the news that you'd won more than £52,000?

I checked it on the television on the day and double checked it and checked it again. Then I had 10 missed calls on my phone and rung up the guys at work who confirmed it.

How did you feel when the win was confirmed?

Absolutely brilliant – about time! It just goes to show that it's been worthwhile being a part of this syndicate.

What do you intend to spend the money on?

My wife Lynne says I can have a new shed, but no more! My children and six grandchildren will be having some of the money and the rest will go on holidays.

Wayne Birch, aged 49, of Cannock, is an engineering manager, who has worked at Steelite for three years.

What are you spending the money on?

A family holiday to Walt Disney World in Florida as my seven-year-old daughter Bethany heard I had won a lot of money on the lottery. The last holiday we went on together was to Weston-super-Mare, so this one will be very different!

Where were you when you found out about the win?

I was in bed when I got a text at 5am in the morning. I normally only get texts at that time if there's a problem at work, so I wasn't best pleased when I heard my phone go off. When I read the text, I thought I was dreaming because I was still half asleep.

Is this win going to change your life?

This is a once in a lifetime thing, but it's not going to change my life dramatically. We are moving house in two weeks so that will help to buy some new furniture.

Philip Mountford, aged 66, of Sneyd Green, is a glazing maintenance worker and has been at Steelite for six years.

What are you spending the money on?

I am planning to spend the money on a few holidays, but I haven't got anything big planned yet.

Where were you when you found out about the win?

I was in bed when a text message woke me up at 7.30am. When I saw the text I thought there must have been a catch. It has only really sunk in after the cheque went into the bank on Wednesday.

Do you see it as a life-changing amount of money?

It isn't a life-changing amount as I am only doing three days a week at work at the moment. I enjoy my job and I intend to carry on working."

Ryan Marrow, aged 24, from Newcastle, has been a maintenance fitter at Steelite for 16 months and joined the syndicate straight away.

What are you going to spend the money on?

"I don't have any real plans yet, but it does put me in good standing for buying a house."

Have you won anything before?

"No, I've never won anything like this before. It is unreal."

Where were you when you heard you had won?

"I found out when I checked the tickets on Saturday morning. There was a lot of jumping up and down when we first found out. To be honest, it is still sinking in."

Is it going to change your life?

"For me, it is a life-changing sum of money as it will help me get on the ladder."

Father-of-one, 44-year-old Brian Everill, from Goldenhill, is three years into his second spell as an engineer with the company.

What are you going to spend the money on?

"I'll probably pay a few things off, like the mortgage, and if there is any left I might get myself a car."

Have you won anything before?

"No, not like this. This is easily the biggest thing I have won."

Where were you when you heard you had won?

"I woke up to hundreds of texts and missed calls on Saturday morning. I had no idea it was going to be a lottery win."

Is it going to change your life?

"It's not a vast amount but it will help amazingly with the finances."

Father-of-two and grandfather-of-four John Durber, aged 62, from Newcastle, has worked as a maintenance fitter for 44 years.

What are you going to spend the money on?

"I haven't got many plans for the money, but I'm sure my missus will have some ideas. If there is anything left afterwards I'll get a new car."

Have you won anything before?

"None of us have ever won anything like this before. It is absolutely champion."

Where were you when you heard you had won?

"I was just clocking on at work when someone came over to let me know - I thought they were just pulling my leg."

Is it going to change your life?

"It's a good enough amount to make you comfortable at least."