Standing outside the front door of a three-storey red-brick townhouse in Berkshire, Sir Rod Stewart may not look like your average landlord.
But then husband and wife Rostyslav and Olena and their children Taras, 17, Kostya, 16, Roman, 13, Mariia, 10, and Dymtro, two, are not your average tenants.
The family abandoned their previous home in war-torn Ukraine and made a perilous journey over the border, crossing Europe until they finally arrived in the UK.
Starting again here with no money or home and not speaking a word of English was no doubt a terrifying prospect. But help arrived in the form of a most unlikely rock 'n' roll saviour.
In an extraordinary turn of events, their new life in England is being completely funded by music legend Sir Rod - who has found them a house, furnished it and pledged to pay their rent and bills for at least a year.
It was little wonder they were so pleased to see him when he recently met them for the first time.
"I walked through the door and they all came running down the stairs, all beautifully dressed in Ukrainian national costume," Sir Rod smiles.
"It was so lovely that they all made that effort. They made me a cup of tea and we had loads of biscuits and chocolates, although the baby kept nicking all of mine. It really was wonderful."
The astonishing story began one evening many months before when Sir Rod and wife Penny were left heartbroken watching the horror in Ukraine play out on the evening news.
"Words couldn't describe what we were watching," says Sir Rod.
"The bombing of innocent children, the bombing of hospitals and playgrounds. Like everyone else, we were completely beside ourselves. I don't wish that one anyone. This is evil, pure evil."
He remembers turning to Penny saying they could be watching footage from the Second World War had the newsreels been in black and white.
"I was born just after the war, so my family have lots of memories of it," he says. "That's how devastating it was to me. I didn't think we would see the likes of land war with tanks again."
From that moment, he was determined to try and make a difference. "Me and my nephew Warren thought we had better do something – it was his idea," he explains.
"He said, 'Listen, let's get some trucks together, fill them up with supplies and whatever they need.'
"So we got three trucks and a team drove up all the way to Ukraine. It took them a weekend. They got all the way to the border and took 16 refugees back to Berlin for safety."
Grateful
Sir Rod was desperate to go on the journey himself but he was advised against it – perhaps unsurprisingly given his age of 77.
Instead, Warren was joined by brother Gavin and six other volunteers for the mercy dash, which was completely funded by the star.
"I would have driven over in my Lamborghini," Sir Rod laughs. "I would have loved to have tagged along."
The mission was a resounding success – but Sir Rod didn't want to stop there. Determined to help other refugees facing the daunting prospect of trying to rebuild their lives, he was put in contact with Rostyslav and his family, who were not part of the original 16 refugees but had made it all the way to the UK.
As well as taking on a new house for them, he then provided jobs for two other refugees on his sprawling Essex estate, including one as a gardener.
"They are all very grateful," Sir Rod says. "And it just makes me want to do more. I am thinking of getting another house now and getting a lot more people over."
Sir Rod says it was a delight getting to know Rostyslav and his children, despite the obvious language barrier. "They are such a lovely little family and so polite too. None of them speak English but they have such wonderful manners, especially the teenagers,” says Sir Rod, before laughing: "I don’t know what they are like when I'm not here though."
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So what did the family make of having a famous rock star as their
new rent-free landlord?
"I think they had been briefed before they met me as to who I was – and they certainly know who I am now, since I left about 500 CDs for them," the singer jokes.
Sir Rod says he thought long and hard about whether to make news of his Ukrainian mission public.
But he says being knighted in 2016 for his services to music and charity has dramatically altered his mindset.
"I usually keep all my charitable efforts nice and quiet and just do it. But I thought, 'I am a knight, I have been given this knighthood because of the things I've achieved in my life and the charity work I've done over the years.'
"But that was the past; I want to be seen to be doing something now. I am a knight, I should be using my power to do something for people.
"I am sure that if there are people out there who see what I am doing, they will pick up some slack too."
The tragedy unfolding overseas is all the more poignant for Sir Rod given his affinity with and love of the Russian people and culture.
He remembers fondly his trips there, including a visit in 2018 to Moscow's regal Bolshoi Theatre for a classical awards ceremony where he handed out a gong.
Cheering
While he was on stage, Sir Rod went off script by regaling the crowd with news that his beloved Celtic football club had come from behind to beat arch-rivals Rangers.
"The audience started cheering, it was wonderful," he says. "I remember later going shopping and everyone insisting that I had to take security with me. I had six security guys, all talking into their collars. Lo and behold, I walked into the shopping mall and no-one knew who I was.
"It was hilarious. I was like, 'Guys, go home, I am OK.'"
The star adds: "I always say this… we are not blaming the Russians. It's one man and his regime. That's why there have been thousands arrested, because they don't want him."
Sir Rod is determined to address the war head-on when he goes on a massive UK arena tour next month.
"I have a song called Rhythm Of My Heart which is actually about the Vietnam War and how pointless it is, but is relatable to any war," he says.
"I will dedicate it to the Ukrainians and put a big picture of [President Volodymyr] Zelensky up and show their flag. It's the least I can do."
This evening, Olena and Rostyslav spoke of their joy at starting new
lives in the UK thanks to the help of Sir Rod and his family.
They said in a statement: "Many thanks to Sir Rod Stewart, Warren Cady, his parents and their family for their openness and genuine and big hearts. Thanks to their sponsorship and Warren’s hard work, our children are now safe and able to learn normally in school.
"We thank the British Government and residents of Bracknell, the teachers of our children and the entire British people for their tireless and invaluable assistance to Ukraine.
"We pray daily for God's blessings on Sir Rod, Warren, their family and all the British people."
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