Not forgotten - this week marks the 45th anniversary of the Banbury Army cadet accident that sent eight teenagers to hospital

Yesterday, Tuesday September 15, marks the 45th anniversary of the tragic accident that sent eight teenagers to the hospital, several of them seriously injured.

Shawn said: "I was one of the worst ones injured. It was one of the worst accidents in Banbury - eight kids were hospitalised. None of us got killed, but that was down to the hospital, Horton General."

Every year Shawn remembers the anniversary of the accident and makes a post on his Facebook thanking the emergency services personnel involved.

Shawn made the following post on Facebook to remember the anniversary: "45 years ago today (yesterday September 15) around 8.30pm, the Army cadets from Banbury detachment were involved in an accident at Giant's Caves.

"Myself and seven others were hospitalised. With a range of broken bones and lacerations. Others in the group where traumatised. Gladly, no one died. I send my best wishes too all who where involved, us cadets, police, ambulance, doctors and nurses."

Shawn, who was 14 years old at the time of the accident, had 27 operations within the first six months after the accident to treat multiple broken bones he suffered during the accident.

He added: "I had a fractured tibia, fibula and femur all on the left side. We were all young lads aged 13 to 17.

"It's been 45 years since the accident. I remember it, and I want to thank the police for getting there so quickly and the doctors and nurses at the hospital.

"It gets to me this time of year. I never forget about it because I get up every morning and see the scars on my legs. I could've lost my legs, but the hospital (staff) saved my legs."

Shawn had early aspirations of joining the Army, but after his injuries were too severe he later became a chef.

He added: "There were 20 odd of us walking (on Broughton Road) and a motorbike came around the corner and ploughed into us. We were a two-wide column marching back into Banbury.

"We were practising field craft. Most of us wanted to go into the Army. But it changed a lot of career paths for a lot of us due to what happened."