But he wasn’t giving up without a fight – and the 23 year-old from Great Cornard has just joined the Royal Anglian Regiment after graduating from Sandhurst.

Second Lieutenant Hearne trained at the prestigious Royal Military Academy for a year after persuading doctors at the hospital where he was treated to support his application.

His mother Virginia said: “As a family we just couldn’t be prouder. He had such a rocky start in life and he is a credit to everybody.”

Virginia brought up Tim and his older sister Sophie by herself after their father Anthony – former deputy head of Bures Primary School – died from an asthma attack when his son was 18 months old.

But when Tim was five he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma – a cancer of the white blood cells.

He had to have intensive chemotherapy and spent two years under the supervision of the oncology department at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

The youngster went on to attend Pot Kiln Primary School, and Great Cornard Middle and Upper Schools.

Then aged 15 he surprised his family by joining the Army Cadets in Sudbury, and at 18 became a member of the Territorial Army while at university.

“He knew he wanted to go to Sandhurst but when he applied for a scholarship he was told they couldn’t take him because of his history of cancer,” said Virginia.

“They were worried one of the chemotherapy drugs could have a long-term effect on his heart if put under extreme stress.

“But he was determined not to give up. He got in touch with doctors at Addenbrooke’s and they wrote to the Army medical board on his behalf. Eventually they gave him the all clear.

“It shows what can be achieved if you are really determined,” said Virginia. “I also feel the schools in Cornard should take some of the credit for his success,” she added.

Tim will now take a three- month specialised infantry platoon commander’s course in Wales before being put in charge of a platoon of 30 men.

“The next part of my career will be challenging but I feel confident from the training I have had, and am looking forward to it,” he said.