Ex-army major rows to Isle of Wight in DIY boat for Ukraine

Donning his famous Union Jack suit, Michael Stanley captained Tintanic II across the water

PA Media Michael Stanley, known as "Major Mick" — Donning his famous Union Jack suit, Michael Stanley captained Tintanic II across the water

A retired 81-year-old army major has rowed across the Solent in a homemade tin boat for a charity helping Ukrainian refugees.

Michael Stanley, from Chichester known as "Major Mick", set off in Tintanic II from Hurst Castle to Colwell Bay, Isle of Wight, shortly after 06:30 BST.

He said the crossing of about a mile (1.6km), which took about an hour, "couldn't have been better".

Mr Stanley has to date raised more than £8,000 for Children on the Edge.

Mr Stanley served in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards for 35 years

The row was one of several planned to raise funds for the charity who help Ukrainian refugees crossing the border to Moldova and Romania.

He said: "The Ukrainians need every help they can possibly get.

"I just felt that if I could raise a few pounds for them, it's a drop in the ocean but it's something rather than nothing."

"Major Mick" arrived at Colwell Bay, Isle of Wight, after setting off from Hurst Castle

Michael Stanley, known as "Major Mick" — "Major Mick" arrived at Colwell Bay, Isle of Wight, after setting off from Hurst Castle

Mr Stanley, who served in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards for 35 years, has included trips across the Beaulieu river in the New Forest and the Serpentine in Hyde Park.

He made the Tintanic out of two sheets of corrugated iron in March 2020, the year he started rowing.