Fans of The Wanted's Tom Parker have spoken of how he inspired them as they gathered to pay their respects at his funeral this morning. Close friends and family are expected to attend the private service in Queensway, Petts Wood, in south-east London, on Wednesday morning.
Tom's widow Kelsey invited fans to line the route as they head to the church, where they will be able to watch the service outside on big screens. She has also created a GoFundMe page to "keep Tom's memory alive forever" via donations to charitable causes, instead of sending flowers and cards.
The page exceeded its £5,000 target within the first 12 hours and so far has received more than £54,000 in donations. 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.
Hundreds of fans lined the streets for a procession ahead of the funeral. Kelsey led a cortege featuring three black horses.
Flowers spelling out the word "Daddy" adorned the side of the carriage while a flowered sign that spelled the word "Tom" in red roses was attached to the front. Outside St Francis of Assisi church, flowers spelled out the words "Glad You Came", the title of The Wanted's 2011 hit that went to number one in multiple countries.
Kevin George and Susan Potter, from Orpington, whose eldest son Daniel died in 2018 aged 22 from an astrocytoma Grade 3 brain tumour, were among those waiting outside the church ahead of the funeral.
Asked whether Tom's campaigning for brain tumour research in his final months had affected her, Ms Potter, who was carrying a framed picture of her son, said: "Of course it did, especially the BBC One interview that they did and the way he dealt with it. It was exactly how my son dealt with it - exactly.
"In fact, at his funeral we played Bon Jovi, It's My Life, because that kind of (message) - it's my life, I am going to live it now, I am going to live it today."
Mr George added: "It's good. It is raising the profile as well. He has raised a lot of money for research, which is what it needs. A lot of other cancers have almost been eradicated. They need to have more research into brain tumours."
Ahead of the cortege, receptionist Chloe Mayne, 25 from Plumstead and a self-professed "super-fan" of the late singer, told the PA news agency: "It was amazing seeing him (perform live). It's horrible that I saw him at the O2 and then two weeks later he died.
"The day he died it really hit me. To be fair I don't think anyone was expecting it that quickly, I thought he'd have at least another Christmas and maybe next year.
"He did look bad but then he was in Spain for three weeks having treatment before the tour started so I think everyone thought it was bad because of that. Most shows he did one song on the tour but at the O2 he did two because I think his kid was there, he did Gold Forever and Glad You Came.
"He was sitting in a chair but it was amazing, it looked like he was having the time of his life."
Ms Mayne said she was 15 when she became a fan of The Wanted and had attended around 25 of the boy band's concerts, adding: "He was my childhood really."
Laura Chalk, 24, from Essex said outside Tom Parker's funeral: "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 understood. 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."
Earlier this month, Tom's widow Kelsey thanked all those who have donated to the fund for their "heart-warming messages" which she said have "really shone a light on just what a legend my Tom is" and highlighted his achievements in the final 18 months of his life.
The couple married in 2018 and had a daughter, Aurelia Rose, in 2019 and a son, Bodhi, in October last year. Tom disclosed in October 2020 that he had been diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma and had begun radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
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.
