A bench in memory of The Wanted singer Tom Parker was created by a Bolton homeless charity to be installed in a place he used to hang out with his friends.
Tom died at the age of just 33 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Tom's mother commissioned the bench from Bolton homelessness charity Emmaus.
Early last month, Noreen Parker held a singing competition at The Swan on Saturday August 5, the day after what would have been her son’s 35th birthday.
Tom died in March 2022.
Noreen attended Emmaus’ main charity shop before the event asking if they would make a bench for her.
Phil Urmston, project manager, worked with Noreen on the design and the bench was paid through fundraising efforts.
The bench is installed in Seven Acres Country Park which is where Tom and his friends used to hang out when they were younger.
On the day it was fitted, a lot of people commented and said it was a nice bench that fitted in well to the country park.
Noreen said that her son supported many charities and how Tom would have liked funds spent on making a bench in his memory to have gone to Emmaus Bolton.
She said: “Tom did a lot for charity and would have supported causes like homelessness.
“He was always championing people who needed help, no matter what life situation people were in.
“He was a patron of a couple of charities and did a midnight walk for breast cancer, so Tom would have been supportive of funds raised going to Emmaus Bolton.
“I knew about Emmaus Bolton because I donate items and bought a chest of drawers.
“I had gone down to donate last year and noticed the woodwork near where the charity sells furniture, and one of the guys told me that the charity works together to make furniture.
“I found out more about Emmaus supporting homeless people when I ordered the bench.
“It’s really great that people are helped with work and accommodation by Emmaus Bolton to get their lives back together.”
Phil said: “Emmaus Bolton is glad to be able to help Noreen remember Tom.
“We always make careful note of what customers want, and we put together this bench in Tom’s memory with special care and attention, so it stands the test of time in Seven Acres and is fitting tribute to Tom.
“Emmaus Bolton is proud to be able to help the community in many different ways, providing accommodation for people with experience of homelessness, a food bank for Bolton and opportunities to progress.
“We hope the knowledge that funds raised will go to help others, will be of some comfort to Tom’s family, his friends in Bolton and fans of The Wanted.
“We were honoured and privileged to have been asked to make a bench in Tom’s memory by his mum Noreen and hear her story about his charity work and her life after losing him.
“Tom has always supported local charities, so it was nice for Noreen to think of Emmaus as one she wanted to help.
“I have heard of The Wanted and as a young boy band, I can see why they had millions of fans.
“It’s such a shame Tom’s life was cut short.
“I hope the bench will be of some comfort to Noreen and it will be used by the people he knew to sit on and remember him for many years to come.”
Together with band members Siva, Max, Nathan and Jay, Tom sang chart-topping hits like All Time Low and Glad You Came, with a following of more than five million people on social media.
If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.
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