A FORMER Sheldon School pupil suffering from dyspraxia, who became the first person to cycle the length of Cuba, has been awarded with a medallion so prestigious that it had only ever been presented to the Queen.

Ben Jones received the Winston Churchill Medallion alongside 128 Fellows who completed the Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship, which allows UK citizens to go abroad on projects and bring their experiences and benefits back to the country.

The 23-year-old was presented with the medallion at an awards ceremony in London last month, along with two other awards for his efforts at cycling 1,600km around the Caribbean’s largest island and writing a report on dyspraxia – a lifelong condition which affects coordination and speech.

Mr Jones received the Viscount De L’Isle Award from the Viscount De L’Isle – the second person ever to receive the Victoria Cross – and the Mike Jones Award, who was the first person to ever descend the Blue Nile.

“I knew I was going to get the medal but it was only when I got up there that I found out I was getting the other two awards,” said Mr Jones, who represents the British government on election observation missions.

“Normally the Queen gives out the Viscount De L’Isle Award but she was opening Parliament so I wasn’t able to see her unfortunately.

“It was so nice to get this extra recognition, when I started out there was no role model for dyspraxia but now other people with dyspraxia who are struggling to ride a bike hopefully have some inspiration.

“The day will come when dyspraxia is as well understood as dyslexia.”