Eighty National Express bus drivers from the Yardley Wood Bus Depot in Birmingham have won a collective £108,510.50 in the EuroMillions lottery, with each member receiving an equal share of the windfall. The syndicate, known as "On the Buses," was meticulously organized by 73-year-old Dennis Houghton, who has run it for over 17 years since 2009.
How the Syndicate Works
The syndicate was started in 2009 when a fellow driver approached Dennis and suggested they pool money for a Friday EuroMillions draw. It has grown from 24 drivers to 80, with a waiting list. Each week, Dennis buys tickets using a mix of Lucky Dips and numbers drawn at random from a jar containing slips numbered 1 to 59. He posts a copy of the ticket on the syndicate's Facebook page for updates.
The Winning Moment
Dennis checked the tickets on his National Lottery app on a Saturday morning in May 2026. He said: "I was at home on Saturday morning when I checked the tickets on my National Lottery app, and while I heard the little bell confirm a win I assumed I would see a few quid, but seeing all those thousands was quite a surprise. I quickly called the first name that jumped into my head to share the news – my logic was, if the shock kills me someone else will know!"
Plans for the Prize
The drivers plan to spend their winnings on a new upstairs carpet and holidays. Dennis noted that the depot manager was relieved the group didn't win the jackpot, as a larger win could have caused a driver shortage. He said: "I’m suddenly Mr Popular, I can’t tell you how many pats on the back I’ve had since we discovered our nice little bonus. Everyone is so happy, but maybe not as happy as our gaffer who is relieved we didn’t match all the numbers. If we had, Birmingham might well have been a little bit short on bus drivers."
Details of the Win
The winning ticket matched five main numbers and one Lucky Star in the EuroMillions draw on May 22, 2026. It was one of two UK winning tickets at that prize level. Dennis purchased the ticket while on holiday at Geralds Supermarket on Warren Road in Dawlish Warren, Devon. Over the years, syndicate members have come and gone, with some retired workers still contributing.
