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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Tom Bryant

Rod Stewart cheered on by rock legends after helping Ukrainian refugees

Jimmy Page and Roger Taylor have praised fellow rock legend Rod Stewart for helping Ukrainians settle here.

The Mirror told this week how the rocker, 77, was renting a Berkshire house for a family of seven, and paying the bills.

Sir Rod has also employed two refugees at his Essex mansion and vowed to house others.

Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy, 78, said: “That really is a generous gesture. The situation in Ukraine is heart-breaking.” Queen’s Roger, 73, added: “Damn good for him! I love Rod.”

The pair spoke at the London launch of photo book Pattie Boyd: My Life in Pictures. Sir Rod will address the war on stage when he kicks off his UK tour next month.

Sir Rod has also been praised by his wife, former model Penny Lancaster.

Speaking to the Mirror yesterday at a Westminster rally for the Menopause Mandate campaign, Penny said: ”He is always giving back. Not coming from a wealthy background, Rod appreciates where he is and he is always pinching himself and saying: ‘why me, why did i become the lucky one?'

”Of course, it's a lot more than luck, there's a great deal of talent and extreme hard work. But he has always wanted to give back and I am very proud of him for that.”

Rock legend Jimmy Page has praised Sir Rod for helping a Ukrainian family (SWNS.com)
As has Queen's Roger Taylor (Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Sir Rod provided support to Ukrainian couple Rostylsav and Olena and their five children, saying he wanted to do more after being knighted in 2016.

He and his wife were inspired to act after witnessing the unfolding events of the ongoing war in Ukraine on the news.

The singer also hired three trucks filled with supplies for refugees and had them driven to Ukraine, before using the same vehicles to transport 16 people back to safety in Berlin.

Rod and his wife Penny in October last year (Dave Benett/Getty Images for Langan's)

Penny added: ”Your heart goes out to displaced families whether it be through war or famine. You want to be able to do something. Initially at the beginning, he sent out three vans full of supplies but then he wanted to go that one step further.”

She said the refugees they were housing in rented accommodation in Berkshire, were settling into British life and had a firm desire to be a ”part of the community”.

She said: ”The older one is starting college, the father is learning English.

”They want to be independent and pay back the gratitude they have for the UK letting them be here.

”As well as feeling absolutely grateful to Rod for helping them out, they want to be a part of the community.”

Earlier this week Sir Rod was hailed by MPs as the ”Best of British” for his efforts.

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