The Wanted fans line streets for Tom Parker's funeral procession
Watch: The Wanted fans line streets for Tom Parker's funeral
The Wanted fans have lined the streets in Petts Wood, south east London to pay their respects to Tom Parker on the day of his funeral.
The Glad You Came singer died at the age of 33 last month, having been diagnosed with stage-four, rare and incurable glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumour in summer 2020.
His wife Kelsey Hardwick - with whom he shared two-year-old daughter Aurelia and 17-month-old son Bodhi - had invited fans to join the funeral procession and gather outside the St Francis of Assisi church where the private service was relayed via screens.
Parker's bandmates Max George, Jay McGuiness, Nathan Sykes and Siva Kaneswaran were present at the procession on Queensway and were seen entering the church together.
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Hardwick was supported on both sides as she walked down the street behind the horse-driven hearse and the coffin - adorned with white lilies - which was carried by four pallbearers.
A heart-shaped floral tribute made from red and white roses which read 'Tom' adorned the top of one hearse, while another arrangement made from rainbow roses saying 'Daddy' was seen being carried into the church.
McGuinness, 31, and Sykes, 29, wore black suits with white shirts and black ties, while George, 33, opted for a black flat cap and black waistcoat worn over a black long-sleeved t-shirt. Kaneswaran, 33, wore a black suit with a black polo-neck sweatshirt.
George was pictured standing in the street with mourners as the coffin passed by.
Hardwick wore a black dress under a glittery dark pink blazer and large sunglasses.
She had written on Instagram: "We know many of you would like to pay your respects as well, so would love for you to join us in Petts Woods from 10am.
"It would be beautiful to have everyone line the route as we head to our private service. You are then welcome to join us outside the church for the duration where the service will be relayed on screens."
A statement from the band following Parker's death said: "Max, Jay, Siva, Nathan and the whole Wanted family are devastated by the tragic and premature loss of our bandmate Tom Parker, who passed away peacefully at lunchtime today surrounded by his family and his band mates.
“Tom was an amazing husband to Kelsey, and father to Aurelia and Bodhi.
“He was our brother, words can’t express the loss and sadness we feel. Always and forever in our hearts.”
Hardwick said on Instagram at the time: "Our hearts are broken. Tom was the centre of our world we can’t imagine life without his infectious smile and energetic presence."
The Wanted formed in 2009 and went on hiatus in 2014, and reformed last year.
Parker joined his bandmates on tour in March for a special appearance alongside them on stage and, in photos that Max George shared from their time together, he was shown in a wheelchair.
He had been forced to pull out of tour dates to undergo cancer treatment, but joined George, Sykes, Kaneswaran, and McGuiness in surprise appearances at shows.
Last October, Parker told The Sun he was determined to defy the odds of his illness.
"They give you 12 to 18 months of survival," he said. "But that’s the general statistics. Everyone we’ve spoken to has been way, way beyond that.
"Now, we’re aiming to be cancer-free by March. That’s the aim. This disease is always there. You might have residual cells but just not active."
In December last year, Parker spoke at an all-party parliamentary group on brain tumours via video-link.
"I’m staggered they can find a cure for COVID within a year but, for decades on end, they haven’t found better treatments let alone a cure for brain tumours," he said.
“Why is it taking so long for clinical trials to come through?”
Parker had undergone several rounds of chemotherapy and over 30 radiotherapy sessions, and revealed last week that he had written a book about his cancer battle.
He told fans: "My book is not about dying: It's a book about living. It's a book about finding hope in whatever situation you're dealt, and living your best life no matter what."
Read more: The Wanted star Tom Parker made emotional return on tour amid cancer battle
He also appeared in a Channel 4 documentary in 2021, called Tom Parker: Inside My Head.
