A DURHAM University student who undertook a marathon walk to the Somme will be presented with a pair of shoes made by company that owes its existence to the bloody battle.

Jordan Blunsom, 22, raised more than £3,200 for the veterans’ charity Walking with the Wounded after covering more than 30 miles a day over 31 days.

He will now be given a pair of Charles Clinkard shoes, made by the footwear firm created in 1916 by Charles Clinkard, who was badly wounded while fighting at the Somme with the Grenadier Guards.

What followed his serious injury was a tale of triumph over adversity, leading to a change of direction that altered the course of history for the Clinkard family.

Charles received the silver war medal for the part he played in the battle.

He was honourably discharged and repatriated to England where he made a slow recovery. He became interested in footwear - and in the tough post-war years providing quality footwear at affordable prices – and opened his first shop in Middlesbrough at 19, Corporation Road.

He went on to marry Eveline who had worked in Baber’s shoe shop in London’s Oxford Street – and the Clinkard story began.

Now almost 100 years later his descendants still run the company – which has gone from strength-to-strength and is now overseen by the founder's grandson, who shares his name.

Earlier this year the firm officially opened its £3m head office and warehouse at Cannon Park in Middlesbrough.

To mark the anniversary and the part the battle played in the establishment of Charles Clinkard the firm is donating a pair of shoes to Mr Blunsom – to replace those he wore out his trek to the battlefields this year.

The donation also marks the final weekend of Durham University’s exhibition, Somme 1916: From Durham to the Western Front which closes on Sunday.

Jordan - who coordinated and managed the planning of the walk himself - embarked on the epic trek from Durham University’s Palace Green Library where the exhibition has been hosted.

Walking with the Wounded supports all veterans with physical, mental or social injury to gain the skills and qualifications necessary to develop new careers outside the military, re-integrate into society and provide long-term security for themselves and their families.