Today, family and friends of Liam Payne congregated to bid him farewell after the ex-One Direction heartthrob passed away on October 16 at the young age of 31.
The singer’s kin went above and beyond to ensure the proceedings were a fitting homage, incorporating personal tributes among the traditional floral arrangements and flickering candles.
A unique floral tribute greeted attendees as they made their way into the Buckinghamshire church: a custom display depicting bowling pins struck by a ball, crafted entirely from fresh blooms.
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This poignant yet quirky detail was a nod to Liam’s well-documented passion for bowling—he even celebrated his last birthday on August 29 with a family bowling outing, mere weeks prior to his passing in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Liam Payne died on October 16 (
Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
“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,” revealed an insider to the Daily Mail, with a somber reflection that “It’s tragic to think that ended up being the last time they would celebrate his special day with him.”
In the days leading up to his untimely demise, his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, amusingly teased him about his bowling obsession in a TikTok video.
In a heartfelt post dated October 3rd, she shared a video montage of a day spent with Liam at the bowling alley, where the couple appeared to be in high spirits, enjoying their game. “He drags me to bowling at least four times a week,” she wrote alongside the clip, reports the Mirror.
A fan reminisced in the comments, “The joy that bowling brought him even though he was so bad at it… I miss him so so much,” referring to Kate’s unexpected win at the end of their game.
Liam’s funeral paid homage to his cherished hobbies, including a subtle nod to another of his enthusiasms. Cars arriving at the church bore Batman stickers on their windshields, featuring the iconic black bat emblem set against a stark white backdrop.
Liam Payne’s funeral had ‘daddy’ flowers to pay tribute to his role in his son Bear’s life (
PA)
The Wolverhampton-born lad’s fascination with Batman was no secret, with some fans suggesting he was downright “obsessed” with the caped crusader. At one time, he even had a life-size Batman cutout in his bedroom and once posted a selfie donning a Batman cap in 2013.
Accompanying the Twitter photo, he declared: “For those who you who have doubted me and now turn to hate I’d like to say one thing… I am Batman.”
Celebrating his love for the Dark Knight, Liam enjoyed a Batman-themed birthday cake and owned an impressively realistic Batman costume. Defying the celebrity norm of never repeating an outfit, Liam proudly wore his Batman attire to several Halloween festivities over the years, from 2012 through to 2019.
Beyond the nods to Liam’s passions and pastimes, his hearse revealed what truly mattered to the late star’s top priority. Two floral arrangements, one in red and the other in blue, leaned against each other on top of the hearse.
One arrangement read “SON,” while the other read “DADDY.”
As the father of seven year old Bear Payne, whom he shared with ex-partner Cheryl Cole, Liam’s love for his child was evident. Cheryl had praised Liam’s parenting after his passing, and Liam himself had often spoken about his dedication to his young son.