IT'S been a busy few years for Keith Strangwood.

As chairman of the Keep The Horton General Campaign Group (KTHG), the Banbury resident is a long-time supporter of the Horton Hospital and has fought to protect its services.

And after a quiet few months for the campaign, patients and staff are now in uproar after plans were released to make the maternity unit "midwife-led".

This would mean women with complications during pregnancy would have to visit the John Radcliffe Hospital for treatment.

Many of those involved in their campaigns have their own personal stories involving the hospital, but few are more heartfelt than Mr Strangwood.

Tragically, the 57-year-old's baby daughter Lexus Joy was stillborn at the hospital's maternity unit at eight months on February 7, 2011.

With a fight to preserve this ward, those dark days are fixed in Mr Strangwood's mind.

He said: "I think about her every day.

"This was not the fault of the Horton, it was a birth defect.

"The Horton staff and the SANDS Group (Still Birth And Anti Natal Death Support) were there to support Lexus's mum and me at our time of despair.

"I can't thank them enough."

But his links to the Horton Hospital go a long way which is why he fights so strongly for services to be maintained.

He said: "My personal experiences at the Horton spurred me on.

"My grandmothers life was extended for 10 years or more due to the excellent care and service she received at the hands of the Horton staff.

"She went on until 92 despite heart failure and cancer problems.

"My father passed away at the Horton at 73.

"My mother celebrated her 80th birthday last month due to the Horton.

"My five Children all born at the Horton, and today have an active and full life thanks to the hospital being there to safely deliver them."

Mr Strangwood had been a councillor for many years before becoming involved with the Horton campaign group, which has fought against Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUHFT) decision to change services.

Two years after the death of his daughter, he took over as chairman of the group after then chair George Parish stepped down.

He said: "The OUHFT has for many years treated the Banbury Horton as a insignificant outpost in the north that costs too much to retain, hence their repeated attempts and passion to downgrade its services.

"In 2013, due to the unfortunate inability of Councillor George Parish, our hero, to carry on his KTHG leadership, the KTHG asked me to take over and lead the fight to retain full acute services at our Banbury Horton Hospital.

"This duty, I willingly took on.

"I swore to carry on the dedicated fight that George Parish proudly lead for over a decade."

Much of the passion Mr Strangwood brings to the job comes from his many years as a councillor.

He said: "I spent 14 years as an elected local councillor from 1999 to 2013, and during that time I had to witness many occasions where the decisions made weren't fair or were adequately thought out.

"I was, as most political group members, expected to raise a hand at voting time, to make political decision, when it should have been a compassionate decision."

On Saturday members of the campaign gathered outside the hospital to protest against the changes which he say will have a major impact on the town.

Mr Strangwood said:"I will not cease in my efforts to retain all services at our Horton General Hospital.

"There's nothing more precious than a new life."