daniel chigunwe
LONDON. – Liam Payne was laid to rest yesterday following his tragic death last month and a host of his closest celebrity friends were in attendance.
Family and friends gathered to remember the singer, who died aged 31 on October 16 after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires, at the private service.
Some of Liam’s less publicised friendships including broadcaster Adrian Chiles, BBC R2 DJ Scott Mills and ex-footballer Robbie Keane, showed their support.
Other more expected attendees, including Liam’s former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan and the mother of his son Cheryl were all also present.
The band members, who announced their split in 2016, arrived looking solemn outside the church where the funeral service for Liam was being held.
In a joint statement following his death, the band described feeling ‘completely devastated’ after his shock death in Argentina.
They were joined by the band’s former manager Simon Cowell, who orchestrated their shot to stratospheric stardom when he put the band together in 2010.
Simon, who paid tribute in a heartfelt statement last month, arrived hand-in-hand with his girlfriend Lauren Silverman, as she showed her support to the Syco founder.
Nicola Roberts, a member of Girl’s Aloud pop group, was among the first mourners to arrive.
She was greeted with a kiss by Simon Jones, the former PR for One Direction who now acts for Cheryl, the mother of Payne’s son, Bear.
Nicola was joined by her bandmate, Kimberley Walsh, 43, as they rallied around their fellow Girls Aloud member Cheryl. The former Girls Aloud singer, 41, walked behind her ex’s coffin following a poignant ceremony attended by family members and a host of stars from the world of music and sport.
Robbie Keane was involved in the Soccer Aid match with Liam just last year, while the singer also played in the charity match last year.
After Liam’s death, BBC radio presenter Scott spoke fondly of his memories of Liam and the One Direction boys and all of the good times they’d had together.
Two traffic enforcement officers patrolled the area handing out tickets to any drivers ignoring the signs.
Payne travelled to Argentina in September where he watched former bandmate Niall Horan perform and also saw his close friend Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores. He had extended his stay to renew his visa to live in the US when the tragedy occurred.
The entrance of the church which is hosting the service has been decorated with candle lanterns and white roses that have been arranged in surrounding shrubbery. – Mailonline
Online Reporter