Family, friends and former bandmates have gathered for Liam Payne at the One Direction star’s funeral, coming just over a month after he fell from a hotel’s balcony in Argentina. He was 31 years old at the time of death.
The private service had took place on Wednesday in Amersham in Buckinghamshire, north-west of London and the late Payne’s former bandmates, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik were among the mourners. Payne’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy and his former partner Cheryl, with whom he shares a son had also been in attendance.
Payne’s coffin arrived for the church service on a white horse-drawn hearse carrying floral tributes which spelt the words “son” and “daddy”.
After the service, four pallbearers carried the coffin from St. Mary’s Church, followed closely by his parents and Cheryl.
One Direction’s former label boss Simon Cowell, had been seen during the service, comforting the family.
In addition, presenters James Corden, Marvin and Rochelle Humes, Scott Mills and Adrian Chiles were spotted among the mourners.
A small crowd of locals and onlookers had gathered outside the church, but Payne’s fans mostly stayed away, with members of the One Direction group on Reddit reminding others that “memorials are for fans, funerals are for family”.
Payne had lived in the nearby village of Chalfont St Giles and had died on 16 October after falling from the third floor of a hotel room in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.
In a short statement released after his death, his family said:
“We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”
An autopsy confirmed the 31-year-old had suffered internal and external bleeding and multiple traumatic injuries.
Liam Payne was one of the most recognisable names in pop, after he rose to fame on The X Factor.
Even though they came third on the show in 2010, One Direction went on to become the biggest British group since The Beatles.
For the duration of One Direction, they sold 70 million records, with four UK number one singles and four number one albums even though the band had only a five-year career.
The late singer is survived by his parents, two sisters and Bear, his son with the notable Girls Aloud singer, Cheryl.
