A bus driver who went to the shop for a loaf of bread instead went home, in tears, with a cold doner kebab - and £1million. Bus driver Steve went to his local Co-op for a loaf of bread and stopped in at the kebab shop next door before going to the supermarket.
But while at the Co-op the 51-year-old bought a National Lottery Bank The Cash scratchcard - and scooped £1million.
Steve, who now plans to buy his first home after convincing his family of his win, said: “I needed some bits and bobs from the Co-Op. But I went into the kebab shop next door first to order a doner. I then shopped in the store for some bread and stuff and got to the till to pay. I decided to buy a scratchcard and scratched it when I got outside. The final number on the card was 73 which I hoped meant I had won big.”
Steve went back inside and showed the scratchcard to staff. They confirmed that Steve needed to contact The National Lottery.
Steve said: “I had been a bit longer than I thought so I went into the kebab shop, got my doner, and drove home although I can’t remember much of the journey, as I was a bit emotional. I am not embarrassed to say I shed a tear.
Steve said: “I sat in the kitchen and tried to eat my kebab, but I couldn’t. In the end I just put it in the bin. I then told my landlady that I needed to make an important call and asked if I could use her landline, and I rang the National Lottery people.”
Steve called his mum first to tell her of his amazing news, then partner Heidi.
“No-one believed me, I had to take a photo and send a picture. I too couldn’t really believe it. I just sat there looking at it, holding it tightly. And that night I put the scratchcard in an envelope and put it under my pillow for safe keeping.”
Originally from Leicester, Steve moved down to Devon for a more relaxed way of life and to be closer to his parents who live in the southwest. He re-trained as a bus driver, passed his test last year and now drives for Go Cornwall. After winning on Easter Monday, Steve went straight into work the next day for his normal shift travelling between Launceston and Plymouth.
“As the people hopped on, I was chuckling to myself. There I was a bus driver, with a load of passengers on board, and nobody knows I’m a millionaire.
“I love my job, it great to meet so many people and the countryside as you drive around is sometimes breath-taking. The people at my depot have been great with me as the new boy.
“When they found out I had won, they were delighted for me. They couldn’t be happier for me.”
Steve’s girlfriend, Heidi Hammond, 51, from Ashwater is a clockmaker. The pair have already booked a holiday and Steve has bought a new car.
Both Steve and Heidi have always rented so they’ll be buying a home together with the winnings.
He said, “I’ve never had much, ever. I’ve always rented, just throwing my money away on a roof over my head. The win will change everything. We’ll have a home for the first time ever, with no mortgage and still have enough for retirement.
“I will continue working, so will Heidi but we plan to have more holidays. We are now both debt free which is unbelievable and it’s a wonderful nest egg for our retirement. Life is pretty good.”
Steve enjoys fishing day trips around Devon and Cornwall and metal detecting.
Steve is a regular National Lottery player and bought the winning Bank The Cash scratchcard at the Co-op, Stanhope Square, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6AP on Easter Monday, 10 April, 2023. The Bank The Cash Scratchcard from The National Lottery offers a 1 in 3.09 overall chance of winning a prize. The scratchcard costs £5 and prizes range from £5 up to the top prize of £1,000,000.
