A lottery syndicate of hospital x-ray workers was kept in the dark over a jackpot win – because the organiser couldn’t believe they’d won.
The group of eight from Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax won £100,000 on the Health Lottery in September.
But organiser Debbie Kendall, 60, of Elland, didn’t dare tell her pals for almost a month in case she was wrong.
It was only the day before the cash was due to arrive in the group’s bank account that she called a meeting and confessed: “We have won some money – £100,000!”
Admin worker Debbie, who has been at the hospital for 29 years, said: “They thought I was joking but then they started whooping and shouting with excitement. Goodness knows what other people thought was going on.”
The group celebrated the September 13 win with a cheque presentation at The Woodman Inn in Thunderbridge.
Mum-of-two Debbie learned of the win several days after the draw when she went into the local Post Office.
She said: “The assistant told me there had been a winner. I thought ‘That’s nice.’ She ran our eight lines through the machine and told me to lean closer and whispered: ‘It’s you.’
“I was in a bit of a whirl as I went home. I rang the jackpot line and when they confirmed it I was in complete shock.
“I was worried that someone had made a mistake so I decided not to say anything until the ticket had been submitted and checked.
“It was terrible having to work alongside them virtually every day and say nothing until I knew the money was definitely on the way. People may think I am silly but it would have devastated people it something had gone wrong.”
The eight women x-ray department workers started playing the Health Lottery last year. Cash raised goes to British health charities.
The syndicate have won £12,500 each and Sue Jacques, 59, whose numbers won the jackpot, said: “I was dumb-founded that Debbie managed to keep it secret for so long.
“I am now planning a foreign holiday. I have not had a holiday for 10 years and haven’t even got a passport.”
Click below to hear the amazing phone call when Graham Nields rang the National Lottery to confirm his £6m win.
X-ray department helper Julie Longworth, 49, who has been there 20 years, said: “I cried tears of joy. I am getting married on Valentine’s Day so the money will help.”
Ultrasound worker Carole Harris, 55, is planning some home improvements while secretary Janet Wisniowski, 61, is saving the money and said: “I’ll hold onto it until I think of something.”
Mary Hoban, 62, is putting the cash into her retirement fund while mum-of-two Shari Bradley will restore a 40-year-old VW camper van.
The eighth syndicate member wants to remain anonymous.
More than £1m has gone into health causes in Kirklees, Calderdale and Bradford since the lottery started.
Organisations to benefit include the Royal Voluntary Service, Streetbikes CIC and Thornton Lodge Action Group.
