A special, record-shaped plaque was unveiled in Stockport town centre yesterday (October 6) in memory of Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding, who sadly died of breast cancer in 2021. The plaque, which was unveiled by Sarah Harding’s mother and located next to a mural of the singer, will form part of the Stockport Music Story walking tour.
Sarah – who grew up in Stockport – attended Hazel Grove High School, followed by Stockport College where she studied hair and beauty. Sarah also studied dance and drama at The North Cheshire Theatre School in Heaton Moor.
She then went to work for two nightclubs at the Grand Central leisure complex, Stockport before she auditioned for Pop Stars: The Rivals in 2002. It was here she met her future Girls Aloud bandmates, who became one of the UK’s most successful pop groups, and are best known for songs Sound of the Underground, Love Machine and The Promise.
Following her diagnosis of breast cancer in 2020, Sarah was treated at The Christie hospital in Manchester. Her final wish, before she died at just 39 years old in September 2021, was to find new ways of detecting breast cancer early when it is more treatable. The BCAN-RAY (Breast Cancer Risk Assessment in Younger Women) study is her legacy and is supported by Sarah’s family, friends and Girls Aloud bandmates Cheryl Tweedy, Kimberley Walsh, Nadine Coyle and Nicola Roberts, as well as Dr Sacha Howell who was Sarah’s consultant at The Christie.
In honour of Sarah’s life and music legacy, a special plaque located next to the Sarah Harding mural by street artist Degsy on the side of the former Royal Oak at 11 High Street has been unveiled. The plaque close to the Little Underbank in Stockport will form part of the Stockport Music Map Tour, created and hosted by John Barratt, renowned for his work promoting Stockport’s rich musical heritage.
Organiser John Barratt said: “Sarah was such a huge part of Stockport’s story, and her journey from here to the global stage is truly inspiring. We’re honoured to celebrate her legacy while supporting The Christie Charity, and the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal.
“Sarah was such a huge part of Stockport’s story, and her journey from here to the global stage is truly inspiring. We’re honoured to celebrate her legacy while supporting The Christie Charity, and the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal.”
The Sarah Harding plaque in Stockport is part of a larger street art initiative, forming part of the Rediscovering the Underbanks project. Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, this initiative aims to breathe new life into Stockport’s historic areas while highlighting the town’s cultural heritage.
The Christie Charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. This includes money for care and treatment, research, education, and extra patient services. Gifts from the public make a huge difference to the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to patients and their families. Anyone wishing to donate to The Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal can do so here.