A DARWEN schoolboy will be honoured for both his sporting and academic achievements during a ceremony in memory of a former Darwen soldier.

Ryan McKenna, 11, of Darwen Vale High School, will be the first pupil to receive the trophy from the Jack Banks Memorial Trust for Academic Excellence.

Ryan said: "I'm very proud that I have won this award and that my old school wanted to choose me."

It will be the first of what will become an annual award to pupils of Holy Trinity Primary School in memory of Darwen soldier Jack Banks.

Jack was a Darwen boy who lied about his age so he could enlist in the Army at the age of 16.

Holy Trinity, where Ryan was a pupil until last summer, was chosen to run the award because it was one of the schools Jack attended more than 65 years ago. Mike Leighton, acting headteacher at Holy Trinity, said: "The trophy will continue to be presented each year to a child that realises an ambition during their time at primary school.

"Ryan achieved great standards both in sport and in academic subjects and was chosen to receive the award because of his overall success during his time with us.

"The trophy is an excellent idea and certainly reminds us of Jack Banks and what he achieved in his short life.

"This will remain with us and he will always be remembered at Holy Trinity."

The Trust was set up and sponsored by the Association for Veterans of Foreign Wars to coincide with the 60th anniversary of D-Day.

Members of the veterans' association will travel to Darwen to attend a ceremony to reward Ryan for his achievement in the academic year 2003/2004.

It will take place on Wednesday, February 2, at 2pm, at the school.

President of the association, Terry Burton, said: "This award is a yearly award and we, and I hope others, will make yearly donations to the school to keep it going.

"The Memorial Trust keeps alive the memory of a former pupil of the school who was tragically killed on July 21, 1944, after lying about his age to join the army and to fight for King and country.

"He left school at 14 and first worked at Shaws Brick Company.

"He joined the home guard first, which is where he learnt to be a crack shot. He then enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry.

"This trust is also a wonderful opportunity to keep alive the memory of those who gave their lives in the Second World War.

"It also gives history education to the children on what happened so the trust achieves two very important goals."