A retired Army Major rowed across the Solent on a homemade tinboat for charity. “couldn’t have been better”.
Michael Stanley, also known as “Major Mick”Set off in the “Tintanic”On Saturday, he crossed the Solent and made his way from Hurst Castle Lymington to Isle of Wight.
The 81-year-old has raised more than £8,000 and rowed 44 out of a planned 100 miles so far this year for Children on the Edge, a charity helping Ukrainian refugees crossing the border to Moldova and Romania.
“The Ukrainians need every help they can possibly get,”The PA news agency received an interview with Mr Stanley.
Michael Stanley took off shortly after 6am Saturday (Andrew Matthews/PA).PA Wire/PA Images – Andrew Matthews
“And 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.”
Stanley wore his Union Jack suit to guide Tintanic II across water for a brief trip that took about one hour.
“Beautiful sunshine and wonderful scenery, and the sea was very calm,”He said.
“It couldn’t have been better.”
The 81 year-old raises money for Children on the Edge. Andrew Matthews/PA.PA Wire/PA Images – Andrew Matthews
Mr Stanley, who served in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards for 35 years, said his sailing mission – which has included trips across the Beaulieu river in the New Forest and the Serpentine in Hyde Park – is about “putting smiles on people’s faces”.
“People have been extremely generous and kind,”He said.
“And it’s not all about money, but it’s about putting smiles on people’s faces.
“I’m dressed in a Union Jack suit this year out of respect for Her Majesty’s jubilee year.
“It’s a lot of fun, I’m enjoying it.”
Mr Stanley constructed the boat using corrugated Iron (Andrew Matthews/PA).PA Wire/PA Images – Andrew Matthews
In March 2020, the year that he began rowing, he made the Tintanic from two sheets of corrugated Iron.
“(It is) two sheets of corrugated iron which I bought and then bits and pieces which I had in the house or the garden to make the rest of it,”He explained.
“It’s very sturdy – it’s well built.”
Stanley isn’t sure yet where he’ll row next, but is unsure. “very glad”Children on the Edge will be helping to decorate his boat with many Ukrainian flags.
Tintanic II is covered with Ukrainian flags (Andrew Matthews/PA).PA Wire/PA Images – Andrew Matthews
“It’s a local Chichester charity run by young and enthusiastic staff and they are really helpful,”He said