Fans hold vigil in Sheffield city centre to mourn Liam Payne

Yesterday, a vigil was held in Sheffield city centre by One Direction and Liam Payne fans to mourn the singer’s passing.

Over a hundred fans attended the vigil, decorating Sheffield’s Covid memorial near Barker’s Pool with flowers, drawings, poems and other tributes to Liam Payne, leaving the memorial sculpture covered in their dedications.

Fans also released balloons, and sang along to both One Direction’s hits and some of Liam’s solo songs, with the music played on a speaker. After sunset, fans lit candles, and shone their phone torches.

The vigil was arranged by Jessica Leeming, 26, after she saw similar events in other cities. Planned on Facebook, the event began at 3pm yesterday. It was 8pm by the time all fans left Sheffield Covid memorial.

After the memorial was covered in tributes, Sheffield City Council announced that the decorations would be allowed to remain until after Liam Payne’s funeral. No date has yet been announced.

Councillor Joe Otten, chair of the Waste and Street Scene Committee, told the Sheffield Star: “Members of the public have laid memorials and tributes at the city’s Covid memorial for Liam Payne and they will remain in place until after his funeral. We expect that more people will want to continue to pay their respects to him.”

Some fans took to social media after the vigil. One said: “What a beautiful day to celebrate life [at the] Liam Payne memorial in Sheffield, thank you for everyone that came it was beautiful, funny, sad and everything in between.”

Sabrina, 24 was at the memorial, talking to The Sheffield Tab, she said: “It was very heartwarming to see everyone together but also very sad moment saying our own way.

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“Growing up I was very dedicated to one direction and as they split I still supported them all individually and will always be my number ones.”

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