A HAMPSHIRE grandfather climbed a 3,000-foot mountain for his birthday on D-Day.

Rodney Mansbridge scaled Scafell Pike in the Lake District despite appalling weather conditions on Thursday, June 6. 

"It all went well - apart from the weather," remarked Rodney.

"It was very cloudy at the top and there were huge hailstones the size of peas."

Rodney and his family during the hike (Image: Rodney Mansbridge)

Rodney, of Shootash, was part of a larger group of family and friends

"My legs were like jelly, but the younger ones were a bit fitter than me. My daughter walked with me, and she was just as tired as I was."

The hike raised over £2,000 for two charities - the University of Southampton Gift of Sight Appeal and Help for Heroes.

Rodney said: "I have always done charity work with the Gift of Sight. I am blind in one eye, so I take it very seriously."

He is overwhelmed by the support he has received from donors and talked in glowing terms about Gift of Sight.

In particular, he admires the charity's persistence in securing government grants to carry out cutting-edge research 

Rodney enjoyed beautiful views during the trek (Image: Rodney Mansbridge)

READ ALSO: Romsey man to climb mountain in D-Day anniversary charity challenge

Sharing a birthday with the D-Day, he has always felt indebted to the soldiers and their sacrifice.

He said: "There were thousands of young men that died and many, many more who came back injured," he said.

The group made it to the top with horrible hailstones (Image: Rodney Mansbridge and the group)

Rodney emphasised Help for Heroes' support for military personnel suffering from PTSD.

He said: "There must have been so many men during the First and Second World Wars that weren't diagnosed."

Scafell Pike is the tallest mountain in England, standing at 3,209 feet.

Rodney is no stranger to the Lake District. He told the Chronicle that in his glory days he used to climb Scafell Pike and scramble back down in under three hours.