FANS have gathered on the streets in Petts Wood at Tom Parker’s funeral to say their final goodbyes.
Family and close friends attended the private ceremony today (April 20) at St Francis of Assisi church in Greencourt Road.
The Wanted singer died at the age of 33 in March, 17 months after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Tom's wife, Kelsey, led a hearse pulled by three black horses with flowers on either side that said "Tom" and "Daddy".
Fans dressed in black paid their respects as his coffin was placed into the horse-drawn carriage.
Tom’s bandmates Jay McGuiness, Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, and Nathan Sykes served as pallbearers and carried his coffin into the church.
Tom's brother Lewis, his wife, and his bandmates were among those who shared memories or delivered readings during the service.
Ahead of the cortege, receptionist Chloe Mayne, 25, from Plumstead, and a self-professed “super-fan” of the late singer, said she was 15 when she became a fan of The Wanted and had attended about 25 of the boy band’s concerts, adding: “He was my childhood really.”
Super-fan Stefanie Marek, 29, had flown from Austria on Tuesday to witness the funeral procession.
One fan said it was “a real privilege” to be attending the funeral for Tom.
Speaking outside the service, Laura Chalk, 24, from Essex, told the PA News Agency: “I still don’t believe that Tom is gone; he has such a special place in my heart.
“Being here is helping me let go a bit, I think it is nice for Kelsey and his kids to see such a crowd of his fans and show how much he meant to the world.
“I was very young and I used to have Top Of The Pops magazine, there was this new band The Wanted and I didn’t really have internet – my parents were quite strict – and I heard All Time Low and from then I have been The Wanted crazy.
“I was too young to afford my own tickets around the time but I saw them for my first and only time in London for their last tour.
“Just a few weeks ago, I was travelling to America the week after so it happened when I was out there and it was just heart-breaking because I didn’t have anyone to comfort me or understand.
“That’s why I’m here today because I missed the vigils.
“The reunion tour was incredible.
"When he came out I had tears gushing, it was so nice to see them all together and I didn’t even think about how long it would be and I was just living in that moment. It was just the best most incredible night.
“I am a big fan. Honestly it is a real privilege to be here.
"It is special because I feel like a funeral should be private, immediate family and friends, but I feel The Wanted fans are a family and always have been and I know Tom really loved every single one of his.”
One Direction singer Liam Payne also attended the ceremony.
Tom announced that he was diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma in October 2020.
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.
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