Millionaire Sean back on buses to spread the luck

Sean Lloyd returns to drive a bus and hand out lottery tickets.

OLDHAM’S lotto-winning millionaire bus driver Sean Lloyd is living proof his profession is the route to success.

The former First Bus employee returned to the town’s depot yesterday, four months after scooping £1.8 million, to share a little of his luck and fortune after it was revealed drivers are officially one of the luckiest lottery winners.

He decided to give passengers a treat by paying for their fare on some of his old bus routes and handing out lottery tickets which had been rubbed by the lucky penny he put down to his jackpot win in January. He found the penny outside the Oldham shop he popped into to buy his winning ticket and still carries it around everywhere with him.

Surprised commuters were delighted with the gesture.

Fred Barnes (76), from Hathershaw, was over-the-moon.

“It’s brilliant, what a lovely surprise,” said Fred as Sean handed him one of his “lucky” lotto tickets for tonight’s draw as he boarded the bus.

“I’ve just been to buy a ticket as well so fingers crossed I’ll have a win one way or another. What a nice thing to do.”

Fellow passenger Doreen Molloy, from Mossley, said: “It’s a nice gesture for Sean to spread some of his good luck. I hope it rubs off on me!”

Sean, who quit his job the day after his lottery windfall. said: “I raise my glass to all drivers, whether winners or not. Now knowing that so many of my colleagues have struck it rich on The National Lottery I can only assume that we are being rewarded with good luck for all of our hard work!

“I loved every minute of my job on First buses but winning the lottery just gave me so many choices and to be able to give up work and spend more time with my family was just a fantastic position to be in.”

The 49-year-old father-of-four, from Ashton, described life as “relaxing” since the big win and revealed he’d been on a bit of a spending spree.

He also confessed to still doing the lottery and to having won “several times” since.

“We’ve just bought a house in Romiley, had a holiday to Mexico, I’ve paid for my daughter’s wedding and treated the kids and friends,” said Sean,

But he’s also put his money where his mouth is and invested it in a culinary dream which he’s harboured for years.

“I’ve invented a new sauce called “Curious” which will hopefully be hitting the shelves soon,” said Sean.

“I came up with it three or four years ago but never had the money to invest in it but now I have.

“I can’t say too much as I’m in talks with people at the moment but I’ve taken it to a food festival in Brighton where it went down well and it will be at the Foodies Festival at Tatton Park in July.

“I do still do the lottery and I’ve won a few £25 and £200s since. I’m putting it down to my lucky penny which I’m actually thinking of either giving away or auctioning off for charity so someone else can share the luck.”

According to The National lottery there have been 93 millionaire drivers created since it began in 1994 and a total of 1,500 drivers banking a major prize.

The figures have been compiled from The National Lottery’s winner database which lists the job of every major winner.

Builders are the luckiest with 331 millionaires across the country, there are over 100 medical millionaires, including nurses, and over £840m has been paid out in major prizes to secretaries and administrators.

Last but not least are journalists — categorised under media — who have amassed 189 major wins including 16 millionaires.

Tonight’s Lottery draw is a double rollover.