A WAR hero who was awarded the Victoria Cross for valour held an audience of 600 people spellbound in Iwerne Minster on Friday.

Johnson Beharry is the first living recipient of the Victoria Cross in the British Army for more than 50 years.

Beharry of the 1st Battalion, Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment, was awarded the highest military decoration for valour after twice saving members of his unit from ambushes at Amarah, Iraq, in May and June 2004, suffer-ing serious head injuries in the second ambush.

For Clayesmore School's 34th biennial lecture, Johnson Beharry and his agent were on stage for a Parkinson-style interview in front of an audience of pupils, invited parents and dignitaries.

The hero spoke frankly about his tough upbringing in Grenada as one of eight children with little schooling, when he was poor and often hungry.

Inspired by his grandmother to "make something of himself", he came to work in London, and followed up an advert for army recruitment.

He was initially rejected but got fit, cut his hair and was accepted.

The audience heard he was driving the platoon commander's vehicle in Iraq when they were ambushed with rocket propelled grenades and it was his bravery when he drove the vehicle away from the ambush and pulled men free on two occasions that won him the VC.

He suffered brain injuries and, three years on, is still in acute pain.

A school spokes-woman said: "The main point of the lecture is for the pupils to be totally motivated and inspired."