Tom Parker funeral: Widow pays tribute to ‘soulmate’ during The Wanted star’s funeral as stars including One Direction’s Liam Payne attend

The Wanted star Tom Parker’s bandmates carried his coffin into a London church on Wednesday as Champagne Supernova by Oasis played to fans gathered outside around three big screens that livestreamed the service.

The singer died last month at the age of 33, surrounded by his family and bandmates, 17 months after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.

Family and close friends, including Liam Payne from One Direction, attended the private ceremony at St Francis of Assisi church in Petts Wood, south-east London on Wednesday morning.

Parker’s bandmates Jay McGuiness, Max George, Siva Kaneswaran and Nathan Sykes served as pallbearers, while Parker’s widow, Kelsey, has paid tribute to her “soulmate” during his funeral, saying: “Marrying you was the best day of my life.”

Dressed in black, many fans clutched tissues and cried as the cortege arrived from the funeral parlour.

Other pallbearers carefully removed multicoloured “Daddy” flowers from the horse-drawn carriage, taking them inside the church before removing a heart-shaped red rose piece spelling “Tom” from the hearse.

During the private service, a pre-recorded message from Kelsey was played in which she shared anecdotes including about how the pair first met at a nightclub before Parker shot to fame.

Kelsey Parker at the funeral of her husband and The Wanted star Tom Parker.

“From that moment I told everyone I wanted to marry Tom Parker,” she said before becoming tearful.

The congregation erupted into laughter when she added: “Tom told me he was going to be famous and wouldn’t have time for a girlfriend, but he wouldn’t leave me alone.”

She added: “I will treasure every memory because life with you was never dull. You were always coming up with songs, new game shows and we all know how much you loved an invention – I bet you were gutted you never made it on Dragons’ Den.

“Marrying you was the best day of my life… soulmates that’s what we are.”

Addressing the congregation, George said of carrying his friend’s coffin: “I could actually hear him saying, ‘It’s about time’, as he carried us for the last 12 years.”

George added: “Everything he did he did with best intentions, even if it was a fight, he got away with it because it was Tom.

“I could say so much about Tom. One thing I will always remember is his laugh. He loves laughing at people and we experienced that every day.

“He has left us far too early and we will miss him so much. The people outside, the people all around the world, is a credit to him you. Rest easy mate.”

Handbags And Gladrags, also accompanied by a violinist, was sung by RuthAnne Cunningham, who also delivered a rendition of Amazing Grace.

Parker’s coffin was carried out of the church to The Wanted’s hit song Gold Forever before Kelsey, dressed in a gold jacket, placed a single white rose inside the hearse.

As the singer’s body was taken to a crematorium, friends, family and fans lined the street clapping and cheering.

Tom and Kelsey married in 2018 with Aurelia born in 2019 and Bodhi in October last year.

Parker disclosed in October 2020 that he had been diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma.

Despite his diagnosis, in the weeks before his death he had performed on stage with his bandmates as part of their much-delayed reunion tour.