NOT many people can claim to have taken part in the Commonwealth Games.

Yet the University of Hertfordshire’s vice-chancellor is one man who can just make such a claim having been part of the English rowing team in Edinburgh 1986.

And this week Quintin McKellar will be putting his sporting expertise to good use as he takes part in the Hatfield uni’s 24 hour Row for Dough to raise funds for Comic Relief.

Professor McKellar, a member of the Broxbourne masters team, will be joining sports students as they aim to break the British indoor rowing record and reach 600,000 metres.

Starting on March 17, the team will need to row at a pace of 250 metres per minute and the initial leg will be started off by professor McKellar himself.

The former principal of The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) told the Welwyn Hatfield Times it would be an honour to fundraise for Red Nose Day, which starts when the rowers stop on Friday.

He said: “I am honoured to be asked to kick-start the rowing challenge and hope that it will help the team stay ahead.

“It is great to be raising money for a very worthy cause and to be part of a record breaking team again.”

Dr Judith Naseby, who is co-coordinating the rowing challenge added: “This is the first time the students have attempted such a challenge.

“We hope to break the British record and raise a great deal of money for Comic Relief.”