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.
This story is from the April 11, 2022 edition of OK! UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 11, 2022 edition of OK! UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE ROYAL WEEK
King Charles received a warm welcome back to work and the Duchess of Edinburgh made a heartfelt trip to Ukraine
BEST FOOT FORWARD
Build up your step count on one of these wonderful walking holidays
Layers of lusciousness
You're probably familiar with layered tray-bakes such as lasagne. Now that classic savoury recipe has inspired these simple, sweet and luxurious puddings
BEAT STRESS TO GET YOUR GLOW
Mental health and conditions such as acne and rosacea are deeply linked, so taking care of your mind could help give you radiant skin
'I know I'll marry Andrew - he's my soulmate'
Love Island star-turned-disability champion Tasha Ghouri chats about her life since the show, engagement rings and living in the moment
'ADHD made sense of difficulties I'd had my entire life'
Suzanne Shaw opens up on her recent diagnosis and the impact it has had in the hope she can help others suffering in silence
'Is this really the right time to be offering death as a solution?'
Silent Witness star Liz Carr explains why she believes the assisted dying debate puts disabled people in peril
STARS PUT ON A VARIETY SHOW
Famous faces turned up the glamour at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards 2024 as the charity event celebrated its 75th anniversary
'I think the late Queen would have liked to bury me in a coffin full of rats!'
For 35 years, Jennie Bond has reported from a front row seat as royal history unfolds. In OK!'s exclusive interview, she recalls being on the receiving end of Queen Elizabeth's \"icy stare\" and the night she kept King Charles awake
'IT'S PRETTY EASY WORKING WITH JEREMY'
As a third series of Clarkson's Farm begins, Lisa Hogan tells us why she loves being in business with her famous boyfriend