Max George pays tribute Tom Parker calling The Wanted bandmate a 'lion'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The Wanted star Max George has hailed his late bandmate Tom Parker as a “lion” and praised his “courage and ­dignity” in the wake of his ­ cancer diagnosis.

The singer died, aged 33, on Wednesday surrounded by his family and bandmates – 17 months after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.George shared a series of photos on Instagram showing them embracing, alongside a letter addressed directly to his friend.He wrote: “Tom, my brother, my boy, my bandmate, my best bud…“You lit up so many lives all over the world but I can only speak on behalf of mine.“From the minute I met you, I knew this was gonna be a special chapter in my life.

I was right.“We did everything together, some amazing things, some outrageous things. I’m so proud of what we achieved.”Parker performed with his bandmates – George, Nathan Sykes, Jay McGuiness and Siva Kaneswaran – on their comeback tour weeks before his death.George added: “Thank you for ­choosing me as your friend.

It was an ­honour from day one. I’m so grateful I was with you until the very end. The courage and dignity I’ve witnessed over the last few months surpassed the lion I already knew you were.“I know your spirit will live on through your two beautiful babies, your ­ wonderful wife, our music, your fans and in my heart.”Sykes called Tom “the most passionate, funny, driven and inspiring person”.And Kaneswaran wrote: “Thank you for letting us see you light up the world.”Singers Ed Sheeran and Liam Payne, and boyband Blue, were also among those who paid ­tribute.Tom, who married Kelsey in 2018, leaves a daughter, Aurelia, who is two-and-a-half years old, and the ­couple’s 18-month-old son Bodhi. Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our