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Siobhan Macdonald

Tom Parker funeral: The Wanted bandmates arrive as fans line streets to pay respects

Tom Parker's bandmates arrived for his funeral service today as fans lined the streets outside.

The Wanted singers Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness, and Nathan Sykes all arrived for the private service in Queensway, Petts Wood, Orpington to pay their respects to their late bandmate.

The singer and dad-of-two tragically died last month surrounded by his family and friends, following a two-year battle with an inoperable brain tumour.

According to an announcement from his widow Kelsey Parker, the service will be relayed on screens outside for the fans who have gathered to pay their respects.

The Wanted members Nathan Sykes (second left), Max George (centre) and Siva Kaneswaran (third right) arrive for the funeral of The Wanted star Tom Parker in Queensway. (Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire)

Kelsey led a cortege featuring three black horses that featured flowers spelling out the word "Daddy" which 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.

Wife of Tom Parker, Kelsey Parker, follows a horse-drawn hearse during a procession through Orpington (Getty Images)

Hundreds of fans have lined the streets outside the private service to pay their respects to Tom and his loved ones.

Laura Chalk, 24, from Essex told PA Media outside the 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.

A floral tribute is carried into St Francis of Assisi church ahead of the funeral of The Wanted star Tom Parker (Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire)

“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.

A floral tribute outside St Francis of Assisi church ahead of the funeral of The Wanted star Tom Parker (Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire)

“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.”

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."

Tom's widow Kelsey 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.

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