A school cleaner apologized to other members of his Lottery syndicate Friday after failing to put on a winning line that could have scooped them a share of an £8.5 million (US$16.2 million) jackpot.
The group of 15 staff at New College, in Telford, Shropshire, could have won more than £100,000 (US$190,720) each after their numbers came up in Saturdays draw.
But syndicate member Andrew Edwards said he did not fill in the 14th of the 15 lines on the ticket because not enough money had been paid into the pot to cover the cost of entering the draw.
He told BBC Radio Shropshire he took the line out at random after pulling the number from a hat.
The one line that would have won on Saturday wasnt put on, he told the station. I realized on Saturday night. I nearly collapsed.
I rang a few people on the Sunday, including my sister. She said, You will have to explain to them.
Mr. Andrews said the syndicate members were not happy when he told them and although he apologized, he felt so bad about the situation that he has not been to work since.
Four winners shared more than £2.1 million (US$4 million) each in the jackpot after picking the winning numbers 1, 4, 8, 26, 28 and 26, according to operator Camelot.
Syndicate member Marie Roy said, Gutted is not the word. I was quite calm to start off with. But as the weeks gone on Ive got more angry.
Mr. Edwards added, I can definitely say that winning line didnt go on for New College. I have not got it.
And responding to how he was going to build bridges with his syndicate colleagues, he added: I know most of them are really angry with me, which is right.
I hope I can make amends. I know I cant. What has happened has happened. But I will try. I will go back to the people I spoke to personally and say I am very, very sorry it happened to us.
If he had published to the group what had been played before the drawing he wouldn't be in this mess. I run several pools and always, always, always scan the tickets and email them out to all the members at least 8 hours before the drawing (usually more than 24).
I do not agree that he should take the fall for his decision. He is the organizer of the group and therefore he get to make the decisions. You can go through life always questioning the what ifs.
I have organized several lottery groups. I use a pool of numbers and I decide which numbers we play and which numbers we do not play. I make sure that everyone in the group knows ahead of time which numbers we will play.
Sometimes when we do not play, I will check to see how much we would have won had we played. I check just for the fun of it. I rarely tell anyone in the group in those rare circumstances where we would have won lots of money had we played.
What if? What if? What if? It it bothers you, do not check. It does not bother me, so I do not mind checking. But I would hate to have someone in the group complain that we could have won. Could have - should have. Never ending self doubt.
The guy in the above story should not feel responsible. Since he does, I think he does not have the stomach for the job of lottery group organizer.
Not his fault, they are jerks and unworthy of any sympathy. If they want all the numbers they better make sure they all pay. Jesus, get with the program jerks.
Bloody hell, I'd be right cheesed off!
If he had published to the group what had been played before the drawing he wouldn't be in this mess. I run several pools and always, always, always scan the tickets and email them out to all the members at least 8 hours before the drawing (usually more than 24).
A., He could have put the buck or two in for the shortage and either kept that person's share of the win or collected from that person for the loss.
B., The pool should be upset at the idiot who didn't pay his fair share into the pool, not the messenger.
C., That's why he is the school cleaner and not the dean.
I do not agree that he should take the fall for his decision. He is the organizer of the group and therefore he get to make the decisions. You can go through life always questioning the what ifs.
I have organized several lottery groups. I use a pool of numbers and I decide which numbers we play and which numbers we do not play. I make sure that everyone in the group knows ahead of time which numbers we will play.
Sometimes when we do not play, I will check to see how much we would have won had we played. I check just for the fun of it. I rarely tell anyone in the group in those rare circumstances where we would have won lots of money had we played.
What if? What if? What if? It it bothers you, do not check. It does not bother me, so I do not mind checking. But I would hate to have someone in the group complain that we could have won. Could have - should have. Never ending self doubt.
The guy in the above story should not feel responsible. Since he does, I think he does not have the stomach for the job of lottery group organizer.
Good luck,
Jake
Not his fault, they are jerks and unworthy of any sympathy. If they want all the numbers they better make sure they all pay. Jesus, get with the program jerks.
What a bloody shame.