Friends remembered

6:15pm Thursday 7th August 2008

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Family and friends of two friends killed a year ago when their car hit a tree, released hundreds of balloons and held a drive-past in their memory.

Last night more than 300 people gathered in Homebase car park in Bicester, to remember James McCabe, 21, and Adam Davis, 19, who died in the crash on August 6, 2007.

Close friends and members of Cruise Bicester were given a poster of Mr McCabe and Mr Davis by Mr Davis' sister Chloe.

The 17-year-old said: "We are handing out 100 posters to drivers.

"This would mean the world to both of them. It is nice to see that everyone is still thinking about them."

The poster read: "One Year On Never To Be Forgotten."

Members of the car enthusiast group parked up their modified vehicles in the Launton Road retail park, and took time to remember the pair who "had been sadly missed for the past 12 months".

At 8.38pm everyone held a one-minute silence before releasing gold star balloons from the family of Mr Davis and red and blue ones from the family of Mr McCabe, followed by 200 pink and yellow ones in memory of both of them.

Mr McCabe's brother Louis, 24, said he missed their brotherly chats and arguments and had learnt to struggle through life without a brother.

Louis said: "I have stayed true to my word to James. I told him I would set up my own car valeting business and I have.

"Waking up every day and not having the arguments with James has been very hard.

"My little boy Tom misses his uncle and looks up to the sky and says bye to James and blows him kisses."

Louis added if he had to give young drivers taking to the road for the first time any advice he would tell them to get a van and not to put their foot down.

He said: "You will still get to where you need to without driving fast."

Mr McCabe, of Hemingway Drive, Bicester, and Mr Davis, of Oxlip Leyes, Bicester, who were well known for their love of cars, were killed when Mr McCabe's red Peugeot 205 GT left the B430 Middleton Stoney Road.

Luke Neale, organiser of the drive-past, which saw friends drive in convoy through Bicester to the crash scene, said he had worked with the duo at car parts firm First Line, in Bessemer Close.

The 20-year-old, from Greenwood, Bicester, said: "Over the last 12 months I have coped on and off - I have my moments. It only felt like yesterday that it happened, which is not a very nice feeling.

"It is a shock it has been a whole year."

He added: "Any youngsters thinking about getting their first car should behave themselves and not get too cocky."

Dozens of bunches of flowers and a wreath which read "Adam" had been laid at the crash scene.

Staff at First Line had laid a blue and white wreath with a card that said: "James and Adam thinking of you one year on from your work mates at First Line."

Other messages said: "Adam, greatly missed. Always in our thoughts. Claire and Lucy."

"Adam, can't believe it's a year already, miss you so much. Not a day goes by that I don't think about you. R.I.P Love Hayley."

"We will always miss you Adam, but will never forget your lovely smile. R.I.P Love from Bet, Gary and Michael."