Delivery driver quits job after winning life-changing £5.2m jackpot but leaves heartwarming gift for ex-colleagues

WATCH NOW: GB News explores six lottery winners whose lives were transformed byh a big win

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GB NEWS

Susanna Siddell

By Susanna Siddell


Published: 01/06/2026

- 00:01

'Couldn't have happened to a nicer chap,' one former colleague said

A delivery company said it was "touched" by an ex-driver's heartwarming gift after he won a life-changing £5.2million in the lottery.

Last year, Gary MacDonald surprised staff at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock, Essex, with bouquets of flowers and Lotto lucky dip tickets.


The 61-year-old spent more than three decades delivering parcels to shops across the centre before his jackpot win.

But, after a year-long wait, Mr MacDonald returned with a hamper of treats to share with those he once saw daily on his rounds.

"It's been a crazy 12 months, from discovering I'd won a £5.2million Lotto jackpot and starring in the Lotto TV ad, to getting married and moving house," he said.

Mr MacDonald dropped his delivery job after scooping up the winnings and married his long-term partner, Anita.

The couple relocated from Barking in east London to a four-bedroom detached property in Essex.

"It's a good job I retired early. Being a Lotto millionaire is turning out to be a full-time occupation," he said.

Mr MacDonald surprised his former colleagues (pictured: Pauline Richardson) with gifts after his win

'It's been worth the wait,' Mr MacDonald said on his return to his colleagues

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PA

Before his fortune changed for the better, Mr MacDonald's alarm sounded at 5.30am each morning for his delivery rounds.

The former employee had promised himself he would return to visit his old colleagues once life settled down again following the whirlwind win.

His first purchase after scooping the jackpot was a Shark vacuum cleaner.

"That said, I'm delighted to come out of retirement for the day to fulfil the promise I made myself," Mr MacDonald added.

Mr MacDonald surprised his former colleagues (pictured: Donna Samuels) with gifts after his win

Mr MacDonald surprised his former colleagues with gifts after his win

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PA

He arrived with flowers and lottery tickets for those who had been part of his working life for so many years.

"It's been great, surprising my old colleagues, their faces have been a picture. I think we've done a brilliant job of surprising them and spreading the joy with today's deliveries," the former driver said.

The visit had been something he had planned since his win, hoping to share his good fortune with the people he had built relationships with over three decades.

Donna Samuels, manager of the Babyeze shop at Lakeside, described the visit as an "incredible surprise", adding: "He absolutely didn't need to do this, but I'm so touched that he has."

"Then again, Gary sharing the joy is typical of him, just goes to show what a diamond he is."

Ms Samuels recalled how Mr MacDonald appeared every day with a joke and a smile, and she had worried when he suddenly vanished.

"I was over the moon when I discovered the real reason, winning on the National Lottery honestly couldn't have happened to a nicer chap," she said.

"With a friendly wave, a few words, or on a rare occasion a cup of tea, we built connections, so when I hit the Lotto jackpot those people who had been such a part of my daily working life were always in my plans," Mr MacDonald said.

"It’s taken a while to get back here, but looking at the happy faces and the laughter, it’s been worth the wait."