A GROUP of former colleagues from a Welsh steelworks are celebrating after scooping £1 million in the EuroMillions draw — a win that has brought them back together after years apart.

The 15-strong syndicate, made up of ex-finance staff at Tata Steel, landed the prize in the draw on Friday (Feb 27) after matching the Millionaire Maker code.

What began as a light-hearted workplace tradition has turned into a life-changing windfall — and a long-overdue reunion.

The group, dubbed the “Tata Steel Syndicate”, first started playing during long shifts in the finance department, pooling £5 each whenever the jackpot climbed above £100 million.

Even after leaving the company, members kept the tradition alive — staying in touch through emails, the occasional pint, and the hope that one day their numbers would come in.

That moment finally arrived when syndicate leader Paul Davy, aged 61, spotted the winning code.

He said: “I couldn’t believe it — a message just popped up on the app.

“I was checking Saturday’s draw when I saw the notification. I thought it must be an error, but then I saw the Millionaire Maker code. I was in complete shock.”

Paul, who has managed the syndicate for seven years, said he always treated the lottery as “a bit like donating to charity — with the chance of winning as a bonus”.

Now, the win is set to fund a host of dreams across the group, from clearing mortgages to once-in-a-lifetime holidays.

For Paul, that includes another cruise — despite initial nerves on his first.

He said: “My partner didn’t like the idea of boats at first, but we absolutely loved it. So another cruise is definitely on the cards — maybe the Mediterranean this time.”

While some members have stayed in touch over the years, the full group has not met up in person for a long time.

“This win has given us the perfect excuse to celebrate together properly,” Paul added.

Among those sharing in the prize are Gill Furlong, Christine Davies, Sally Wise, Julie Lambert, Allan Evans, Ian Howells and Raja Prasad.

The syndicate members — many of whom still live locally — are now planning how to spend their share, with priorities including home improvements, new cars, and helping family and friends.

The ticket was played via The National Lottery app, with the group winning through the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker draw.

A MILFORD HAVEN family dog has made a remarkable recovery after a serious leg injury left him barely able to walk.

Murphy, a much-loved pet owned by Louise and Steve Coombe, was suddenly struck down with severe lameness after spending time in the garden. His condition quickly worsened, leaving him struggling to move and clearly in pain.

Concerned for his welfare, his owners sought urgent advice from their local vet, who referred Murphy to specialist orthopaedic surgeons at Weighbridge Veterinary Referrals in Carmarthen.

Severe injury diagnosed

On examination, Orthopaedic Surgeon Nichola Davies identified significant pain in Murphy’s knee joint. Further investigation under anaesthetic confirmed a complete rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament — a debilitating injury similar to an ACL tear in humans.

To restore stability and mobility, surgeons recommended a Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy (TPLO), a complex procedure designed to stabilise the knee by altering the angle of the shin bone.

Three-hour operation

During a three-hour operation, a team of five clinicians carefully reshaped and repositioned Murphy’s tibia using the Slocum technique. The bone was then secured with a specialised metal plate to support healing.

Post-operative X-rays confirmed the procedure had been successful, with the bone and implant perfectly positioned.

Road to recovery

Murphy’s recovery required strict rest, controlled exercise, and gradual rehabilitation. Within four weeks, he was already beginning to bear weight on the leg again.

By twelve weeks, follow-up scans showed excellent healing, with only a slight residual limp — expected at that stage of recovery.

Nichola Davies said: “Murphy has done brilliantly. Cruciate ligament failure is a very painful condition, but with timely surgery and careful rehabilitation, dogs can make an excellent recovery. His progress has been exactly what we would hope to see.”

Owners praise care

Murphy’s owner Louise said the family were “incredibly grateful” for the care he received.

She said: “The team were kind, friendly, and reassuring throughout. They explained everything clearly and made us feel completely at ease. The surgery has been a great success and Murphy has recovered brilliantly.”

Back to normal life

Murphy is now enjoying increasing activity levels and is expected to return to full exercise in the coming weeks.

His story highlights the importance of early intervention and specialist care in treating serious orthopaedic injuries in pets.

RESIDENTS in North Pembrokeshire have just days left to invest in a unique community project to purchase a historic Victorian corrugated cottage in Boncath for £12,000.

After a month of gathering support, volunteers behind the initiative are holding a final public meeting at the cottage on Saturday (Apr 4) from 11:00am to 12:00 noon. The event offers a last opportunity for new investors to join the cooperative and for existing supporters to view the building they now collectively own.

The cottage has served the community for more than 130 years. Since the 1930s it has been home to the Boncath WI, while earlier uses included a sawmill office and a rent collection point for the local estate.

The meeting will be led by Cris Tomos of Narberth-based community development organisation PLANED, who will explain how the scheme works and the financial incentives available. Investors contributing £500 may qualify for 50% tax relief through the UK Government’s Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS).

A similar model was successfully used in nearby Crymych, where community investors raised £210,000 to purchase and reopen the Crymych Arms pub.

Supporters can invest by contacting [email protected]
or downloading forms via the Bwthyn Boncath Facebook page. Printed forms are also available from Boncath Village Shop and Post Office.

Following the purchase, organisers plan to launch a wider community share offer at £50 per share to encourage broader local ownership.

The long-term vision is to transform the building into a small heritage centre, celebrating Boncath’s history and collecting local stories, photographs and artefacts for future generations.

For further information, contact Cris Tomos on 07974 099738 or email [email protected]
.