A SKINT bus driver who was forced to work round the clock after TWO burglaries
left his life in ruins has scooped £6.1million on the lottery.
Grandad Kevin Jones, 57, struggled to make ends meet after callous yobs broke
into his home and stripped it bare.
He worked 12-hour shifts to pay the bills and thought he faced a lifetime of
struggle.
But since winning the life-changing jackpot on May 18, he has waved goodbye to
his passengers and is set to live life in the fast lane.
Kevin and wife Michele, 56, dreamed of starting a new life in the sun but just
a few months after moving to Spain ten years ago they were forced to return
home after their home was burgled twice in one weekend.
After losing everything, Kevin started work as a bus driver to help the family
get back on track.
But now, the dad-of-two says he has “passed his last bus stop” and
is looking forward to enjoying retirement with no more money worries.
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He said: “Years ago we had nothing. We were living in Spain and lost
everything.
“Michele was so frightened we just drove back to England straight away and had
to start all over again.
“It’s just amazing that this has happened – to think we had nothing and
were working around the clock and now we have this.
“We really can start to live the life of our dreams – something we never
believed would happen to us.
“This all just doesn’t seem real. I cannot believe we have won this
incredible amount of money.”
But despite pocketing the jackpot, Kevin says his feet will remain “firmly
on the ground”.
A lifelong Everton FC fan, his first purchase was two season tickets, costing
£1,200 in total, so he can enjoy weekend matches with his son Andrew, 30.
He said: “I was always working weekends driving the bus so it will be
amazing to finally enjoy some quality time with my son at the games.”
He has also bought a “modest” three-bedroom house near his current
home in Crewe, Cheshire, where he says he’s looking forward to spending his
days gardening.
Celebrating today at Crewe Town Hall, Kevin said: “The house isn’t what
you’d expect considering how much money we’ve won.
“I’m not going to be extravagant.
“It’s no mansion but we think it’s absolutely beautiful. It’s actually
got one room less that our current home so I suppose we’re downsizing.
“But the garden is fantastic and I can’t wait to get stuck in.
“I can see myself very happy driving a sit-on-mower.
“It’s somewhere I’ll be very proud to spend the rest of my days.”
Kevin and wife of 34 years Michele, a teaching assistant, said the news didn’t
sink in at first – and Kevin even went to work the next day.
He said: “I’d bought the £2 lucky dip on the Wednesday and it was
Thursday evening when I checked my numbers. I just thought I’d be throwing
my ticket in the bin.
“Then I realised I had matched three numbers and I thought ‘amazing, I
have won £25’.
“Then I realised I’d won the lot. I just screamed to Michele, ‘I think I
have won the lottery’.”
But the pair had to wait until the following morning until the phone lines for
Camelot opened to have their win confirmed.
Kevin added: “We didn’t let the ticket out of our sight as we were
terrified we’d lose it or the dog would eat it.
“I was at work the next morning at 5.30am and I’d not slept a wink.
“But there was no way I couldn’t go in – I know how much people rely on
me for their morning commute.
“We knew we’d won but Michele rang me just after 9am to confirm it was
really happening.
“I was actually sitting on the bus at the time she called taking a ten
minute break.
“I just couldn’t believe it.”
Kevin, who works for D&G Bus Company driving the 85 route across Crewe,
Cheshire, then rang his boss to say: “Something major has happened and
I’m worried it will affect my concentration.”
“I said to him don’t worry, it’s not bad news. It’s the most incredible
news ever – I’ve won the Lotto jackpot!
“He told me to drive the bus back to the depot and clock off my shift.
“One of my passengers overheard the conversation and said,
‘Congratulations, I’ve never been driven by a millionaire before.’
“I’ll never forget it.”
Kevin, who is also dad to Lorraine, 32, and grandfather to five-year-old
Joshua, said his priority will be making sure his family are taken care of.
Michele said: “We really won the lottery years ago when we had our
amazing family.
“We are blessed and have led wonderful lives. This money is just the
icing on the cake and will make sure our family will never struggle.”
The winning numbers, 1, 3, 28, 34, 37 and 46, were picked at random in a lucky
dip but Michele believes the win was fate.
She added: “The third is my grandson’s birthday, the 28th is my mum’s
birthday and I won £6000 at bingo with the number 46, so they all mean
something special to me.
“And at Christmas my friend gave me a card saying ‘always believe
something wonderful is about to happen’.
“I’m a very positive person and I think everything happens for a reason.”
Kevin says he plans to hand his notice in at work this week, although Michele
says she’s “undecided” whether she’s ready to retire.
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