Liam Payne’s sister Ruth Gibbins has shared a heartbreaking tribute to her late brother, marking 15 years since One Direction first formed.
The beloved band, made up of Liam, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, was created on The X Factor in 2010 before becoming one of the biggest boy bands in history.
Now, nine months after Liam’s tragic death at the age of 31 following a fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, his sister Ruth took to Instagram to honour his memory on the milestone anniversary.
In her moving post on Wednesday, she shared family photos that had been featured in the band’s Story of My Life music video, including sweet snapshots of Liam as a child and teenager.
She penned: “Liam this one's for you. 15 years of the ‘I'm in a boyband’ text, where Dad ran downstairs to tell us all, absolutely gutted at the time that you'd been sent home again, that you'd been put in a boyband.
“Your love of 1D never stopped, you were so proud of what you'd achieved and part of the love remaining, guiding us through this darkness is the love of your fans who have loved and supported you for 15 years, they are always so proud of you, I hope you can see it.”
She continued: “Your love and support for the other boys never stopped, you were first to congratulate about their successes after the band, you always sang their songs and spoke of them and your memories, they were the brothers you'd always wanted.
“I have my favourite memories of your band, and going through my 20s watching your success with such pride.
“One of my favourite memories is when we were at an after party and Souts was telling us about the ‘story of my life’ video idea, and you said 'ask him what photo of us we're using', he told us and I turned to you and said ‘but Nicola's got a mullet and I've got black hair in it?!’
“And you laughed and said 'I know' absolutely howling that you'd got us to agree to reenact one of our worst photos. We had the best time filming that video with you.”
She also recalled a personal moment that captured her brother’s humour and warmth, telling followers about the time she missed one of his shows in Los Angeles due to customs delays.
“... When you walked into my hotel room on the nighttime, you woke my up to say hi and have a quick catch up and as you were leaving said ‘well Ru, you missed David Beckham tonight’ picked up you gfs bag and left the room, leaving 22 year old me processing the heartbreak of missing David Beckham!” she shared.
Adding: “1D time will always have such a fond place in my heart, you worked your a*se off for the band, consistently showing how incredible you are.
“This year, today, isn't how it used to be. I have so many fan tributes to show you and I know you would be blown away by the love 15 years on.
She ended her post with a tender message: “But as I light my Wednesday candle, and speak to you with heart, I hope you're somewhere sat comfy, laptop on, listening to your bands music from start to finish, smiling.
“Love always, Liam. Once in a lifetime, you were mine.”
