Bolton: Town hall lights up to remember Tom Parker

Molly Morris, from Bolton, helped set up the Northwest vigil in Liverpool outside the M&S Bank Arena, and helped get Bolton's Town Hall lit up, along with her two friends Anna Taft and Toni Morgan.

This is hugely significant to his fans because Liverpool is the last place Tom performed before he died last Wednesday, after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.

The fans wanted to provide ‘comfort’ to his friends and family and give themselves and other fans something to focus on after following the band for years.

The two had met Tom.

Superfans remember their friend Tom Parker

Molly said: “He made you feel like you were friends, and he always came up to us at gigs.

“He was very special.

“Fortunately, our friends know that we are going through grief because he was like a friend.

“It’s a very bittersweet situation.

“There will be some coming on their own, but they will leave with friends.”

Molly and Tom at The Wanted's concert

Anna from Liverpool, managed to get in touch with Radio City who have also lit up the tower orange in Liverpool, in line with the Stand Up to Cancer colour.

The fans were able to then get in touch with the leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Martyn Cox, and he agreed to light up the town hall.

He said: “We received a request which we were happy to agree to light up the town hall in memory of Tom, who was a proud son of Bolton, and touched so many people’s lives.

“It’s a real tragedy that someone so young has lost their life to this wretched disease.”

Anna said: “It brings people together.

“I think it’s given us something to focus on and it’s a very special evening across the country.

“It’s about Tom, and the family, and other fans, so they know they aren’t alone.”

He died at the age of 33 after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.

The fans were also inspired following the re-entry of The Wanted’s song, ‘Gold Forever’ into the charts, which has prompted fans to set up vigils across the country.

It managed to reach number two in the iTunes UK Top Tunes list, which beat its highest position when it was released in 2011, when it was at number three.

Molly said: “He touched so many people’s hearts and this can help provide that comfort to show everyone how loved he was.”

His family have requested charity donations instead of flowers, to keep Tom’s memory alive by helping others in need.

The Gofundme fundraiser - set up by his widow Kelsey Parker - has so far raised more than £26k ‘with all proceeds eventually going to amazing causes in Tom’s name’.