A HEARTBREAKING “Daddy” floral tribute from Liam Payne’s son Bear was left outside the church at the One Direction star’s funeral.
Liam’s ex-partner and mum to his child, Cheryl, as well as his former One Direction bandmates, attended the service in the Home Counties this afternoon.
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It was the first time Zayn Malik has been seen with the rest of the band – Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan – since leaving in 2015, months before they split up for good.
Cheryl, 41, previously spoke of the grief she feels for her seven-year-old son following his dad’s sudden death in Argentina in October.
As friends and family gathered to mourn Liam Payne…
Dozens of locals and fans gathered outside the church to pay their final respects.
The private service was attended by his family and closest friends, with celeb pals also including X Factor mogul Simon Cowell and James Cordon.
The Gavin & Stacey writer and actor accompanied Harry Styles.
JLS star Marvin Humes and his wife The Saturdays singer Rochelle Humes, BBC Radio 2 host Scott Mills, ex-footballer Robbie Keane and broadcaster Adrian Chiles were among the other famous faces.
The entrance of the church was decorated with candle lanterns and white roses that had been arranged in surrounding shrubbery.
A horse-drawn carriage then arrived carrying a dark blue coffin with silver handles, topped with white roses.
On top of the carriage, there was a red floral tribute which said “son” and a blue tribute which said “daddy”.
Silence fell upon the crowd as Liam’s father Geoff Payne and mother Karen got out of a vehicle and stood behind the reverend.
The white horse-drawn carriage was then driven away and replaced by a black Jaguar hearse parked in front of the church.
A wake is taking place following the service.
It had earlier been snowing outside the 12th century church. A marquee was put up in preparation for guests’ arrival.
A floral tribute in the shape of bowling pins was also set up by the entrance.
Autumnal floral displays, made up of red and orange leaves, and white roses, were placed around the doorways of the church.
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Florists were seen unloading dozens of bunches of white flowers from a van shortly after 9am.
A source said prior to the service: “Liam’s funeral is taking place in the Home Counties.
“His family have gone to great lengths to put together the perfect service and give him the send off he deserves.
“Liam may have been a global superstar but to Geoff and Karen he will always be their little boy.
“It is going to be an incredibly difficult day.”
One Direction fans pay tribute
By EMILY-JANE HEAP
ONE Direction fan Alice Chapman came down to pay her respects to Liam Payne ahead of his funeral today.
The full-time mum, 40, who lives in the area where the funeral is being held, said she wanted to show the late singer’s family how “loved” he was.
She told The Sun: “It was such a shock to hear Liam had died. I lost a friend in similar circumstances recently, so it touched my heart.
“Liam was just a normal boy from Wolverhampton who we all watched on the TV on a Saturday night with a Chinese.”
The former events planner added: “It’s a mark of respect to line the street for when his mum and dad drive through.
“I couldn’t imagine anything worse than an empty street if it was my son. We want to show them that people care.
“People don’t appreciate how respected and loved someone was until they are gone.”
Local singer Alice Henry, 47, said she felt compelled to pay tribute to Liam as she is a parishioner at the church where his funeral is being held.
She added: “It’s such a tragic situation. I go to the church and know the vicar who is conducting the service well, so I wanted to come down and pay my respects.”
Cheryl was a judge on X Factor when Wolverhampton-born Liam found fame as a teenager – and the couple later began dating in 2016.
They welcomed Bear in 2017 and went their separate ways the following year.
In a short statement following his death, Liam’s family said: “We are heartbroken.
“Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”
Liam passed away on October 16 after falling from his third floor balcony in Buenos Aires.
He had been in the country to renew his US visa having relocated to Florida with his girlfriend, American influencer Kate Cassidy.
During his trip he attended Niall Horan’s sell-out concert at the Movistar Arena.
After news broke of his son’s passing, Liam’s brave father Geoff travelled out to South America to help authorities bring his son back to the UK.
Liam shot to international fame in 2010 when he auditioned for Simon Cowell’s The X Factor as a solo artist.
He was then put into One Direction by the judges.
Despite only coming third on the show, One Direction went on to become the biggest British group since The Beatles.
Throughout their five years together, they sold 70million records and landed four UK No1 singles and four UK No1 albums.
Speaking in 2022, Liam said he hoped to be remembered simply as being a “nice guy” rather than his musical accolades.
Liam said: “Honestly, just being a nice guy. I’d rather be known for being a nice guy than anything else.”
Heartbroken mourners gather to say goodbye to Liam Payne
By Rachel Dale
SNOW fell in the morning as heartbroken mourners gathered to say goodbye to 31-year-old Liam Payne, who passed away last month tragically leaving his seven-year-old son.
Stunning autumnal flowers were carefully placed around the entrance to the Grade I listed stone church where around 100 close friends and family were invited to pay their respects to the One Direction star and celebrate his life.
The streets fell silent as a horse-drawn white hearse travelled through the quaint market town of Amersham, Bucks, towards St Mary’s church.
Local residents who had lined the streets to pay their respects took off their hats and bowed their heads as the funeral procession passed by with the words “Son” in red roses and “Daddy” in white and blue floral tributes flanking Liam’s navy blue coffin.
The hearse stopped outside the church shortly after 1.15pm and the sun shone down as his coffin was lifted by four pallbearers and carried into the church.
His devastated parents comforted each other as they followed behind, accompanying their son on his final journey.
Underneath a blue sky, One Direction bandmates Liam, Niall, Zayne and Harry were tragically reunited for the first time in public since their split in 2015.
They gathered in the church for the short and sombre 45-minute service – in a devastating farewell that will mark the final time all five band members will be under the same roof again.
Cheryl led mourners out of the service clutching a white tissue in her black leather gloves.
His heartbroken girlfriend Kate also hid her tear-stained face behind dark glasses.
Liam’s loved ones huddled closely together outside the 13th-century church for around five minutes after the service. Seeking comfort against both the frosty weather but also united in their grief.
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