Liam Payne’s friends and family went to great lengths to give the One Direction star the send-off he deserved, integrating special touches in a subtle nod to the singer.
Mourners, including his former bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik, gathered at private funeral at St Mary’s Church in Amersham today, to remember Payne.
White roses forming the word ‘Daddy’ were placed next to ones in the shape of a bowling ball knocking over some pins, at the church in Buckinghamshire.
While the pins might have seemed out of place on a sombre day, the piece reflected the 31-year-old’s passion for the game.
Liam spent his birthday in August bowling with his family and girlfriend Kate Cassidy just weeks before he fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The late singer took to Snapchat during the celebrations and was full of jokes teasing to his followers that his security guard would be sacked if he beat him again bowling.
In the clip Liam moaned that ‘nothing rhymes with 31′ until Kate suggested ’31 the dirty one?’, laughing he replied: ‘No it’s dirty 30, I’ve surpassed that’.
He also showed off the hoodie his girlfriend bought him before they headed to the lane to catch up with his nearest and dearest.
A source told The Sun: ‘Liam was with his mum in Manchester where they celebrated his birthday with family.
‘They were still incredibly close and enjoyed spending time together bowling. Liam’s family stayed with him for a few days at the Stock Exchange Hotel.’
They added: ‘It’s tragic to think that ended up being the last time they would celebrate his special day with him.’
Just a short time before his death, Kate shared a TikTok of the singer at the bowling alley with the caption: ‘He drags me to bowling at least four times a week’.
One fan commented on the video saying: ‘The joy that bowling brought him even though he was so bad at it… I miss him so so much.’
In 2012, the Daily Mail documented how the One Direction bandmates spend their free time, with Harry and Liam opting for a game of bowling.
Many cars arriving at the funeral today sported a Batman sticker in a touching tribute to Liam’s love for the DC character.
Some fans said Payne was ‘obsessed’ with Batman and he apparently had a life-size cutout of the superhero on his room at one point, The Mirror reported.
He posted a photo of himself on X, formerly known as Twitter, in 2013 wearing a Batman hat with the caption: ‘For those who you who have doubted me and now turn to hate I’d like to say one thing… I am Batman.’
He was also pictured in 2017 wearing a Lego Batman chain while he has previously dressed up as the Gotham City hero for Jonathan Ross’ Halloween party.
The One Direction star celebrated one of his birthday’s with a Batman-themed cake and owned a realistic Batman costume which he wore to multiple Halloween parties from 2012 to 2019.
A horse-drawn carriage carried the dark blue coffin with silver handles, which was topped with white roses, to the service at the church in the Home Counties today.
A red floral tribute which read ‘son’ and a blue tribute which said ‘daddy’ were also on the funeral carriage. Following the service, his coffin was carried to a black Jaguar hearse.
Liam’s former partner Cheryl today bid an emotional final goodbye as he was laid to rest.
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.
Harry Styles, 30, joined fellow members of One Direction Niall Horan, 31, Zayn Malik, 31, and Louis Tomlinson, 32, to celebrate the life of their beloved former bandmate. They have described themselves as ‘completely devastated’.
Simon Cowell, who created One Direction, embraced Payne’s parents Geoff and Karen as they left the church, while Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy, 25, was comforted by her friend Damian Hurley, 22.
Cheryl was in a relationship with Payne between 2016 and 2018 and they share a son, Bear. She was supported at the service by fellow Girls Aloud members Nicola Roberts, 39, and Kimberley Walsh, 43.
Joining them were the likes of new Radio 2 Breakfast DJ Scott Mills, James Corden and Marvin and Rochelle Humes.
The funeral’s location had been a closely guarded secret, and local residents only realised it was taking place when ‘no parking’ signs were erected around the church.
A handful of locals and fans gathered outside the church to pay their final respects.