When someone passes away, you always hear people say how lovely the person was. But with Tom Parker, that really couldn't be more accurate. He had a heart of gold and lived life to the full with an infectious energy and cheeky personality to match.
He also possessed incredible strength and positivity. Despite his devastating diagnosis, he still managed to remain the joker everyone knew and loved. I experienced this when I visited him at his home and asked him how he was doing after he'd just been diagnosed with brain cancer. He told me with a laugh, "I've been better!" That was the thing with Tom - no matter what he was going through, he still remained positive and was a true inspiration.
As I sat down to write this tribute, The Wanted's number one hit Glad You Came started playing on the radio and sent shivers down my spine. The tears streamed down my face as I thought about the times I was lucky enough to be in Tom and his incredible wife Kelsey's company.
From attending their 2018 wedding at Ridge Farm in Surrey to breaking the news of Tom's terminal brain tumour diagnosis in 2020, I saw Tom at his happiest, and sadly at his lowest.
When I first met Tom and Kelsey over lunch to hear all about the plans for their wedding, the pair's love for one another couldn't have been clearer. Their excitement at becoming husband and wife was palpable, and they finished each other's sentences as they opened up about planning their big day. They really were the definition of soulmates.
They even told me how they knew they were going to get married from the moment they met back in 2009.
And when their wedding day finally arrived on 14 July 2018, it was of course filled with love and celebration, but, more importantly, it was a party from start to finish in true Tom and Kelsey style.
Denne historien er fra April 11, 2022-utgaven av OK! UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 11, 2022-utgaven av OK! UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
A CITY OF TWO HALVES
There's a holiday for every budget to be found in Dubai, as OK!'s Faith Richardson discovered
'Christmas is a double whammy'
Chef James Martin on the pressures of dividing his time between his restaurants and his family over the festivities
LEARN HOW TO PLEASE YOURSELF
The festive season can be an incredibly stressful time, particularly for people-pleasers who struggle to put their own needs first
'There's a bit of faking it until you make it'
Actor Paul Mescal on entering the Gladiator II arena, building a blockbuster body for his role as fighter Lucius Verus, and heading up an A-list cast of Hollywood's finest stars
THE A-LIST HAIL HOLLYWOOD'S BIG HITTERS
A line-up of the film world's best-known faces attended this year's Governors Awards to celebrate lifetime achievements
'I think we arrived right on time'
The stars of the long-awaited film Wicked, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, tell us why its themes are so relevant right now and why the musical is so dear to their hearts
'No one knows who I am'
Having first found fame on social media, GK Barry has become the breakout star of this year's I'm A Celebrity
'I still pinch myself about how we met'
Now legally married, MAFS Uk’s Adam and Tayah Aveling are looking forward to Christmas with their daughter and welcoming baby number two in 2025
THE ROYAL WEEK
It was a sad week for Queen Camilla, but a good week for the royal family’s charities with visits to hospitals and homeless centres
WILLIAM AND KATE'S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS
After a challenging year for the royal family, the Prince and Princess of Wales plan to give their children an unforgettable time filled with fun and festivities
