Sarah Harding Plaque Unveiling and Walking Tour

The Stockport Music Story is delighted to announce that we will be unveiling a commemorative record plaque and hosting a walking tour in honour of Sarah Harding who was a member of Girls Aloud, one of the UK's most successful female vocal groups.

Sarah moved to Stockport at the age of fourteen, attending Hazel Grove High School and Stockport College. She also studied dance and drama at The North Cheshire Theatre School in Heaton Moor.

In 2002 she took part in the Pop Stars: The Rivals  TV talent show and won a place in ‘Girls Aloud’ who went on to achieve twenty consecutive top ten singles (including four number ones) in the UK, six platinum albums (two of which went to number one in the UK) and accumulated a total of five BRIT Award nominations.

In August 2020, Sarah announced that she had been diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and in March 2021 she revealed that her condition was terminal. She sadly died on 5th September 2021, at the age of 39.

The Stockport Music Story wanted to honour Sarah's musical achievements with a special plaque unveiling and tour. The Tour will start at midday in Thread Bar on Stockport Market Place. After a short introduction by the Tour Guide John Barratt, the Tour will then walk across to the site of the plaque which will be located on the Sarah Harding mural on High Street. 

After the plaque unveiling, John will then conduct a Stockport Music Map walk around the sites of our other commemorative plaques for The Sinking Ship/Jimi Hendrix, Joy Division/Unknown Pleasures album, Inter City Studios and Hologram Studios and then arrive back at Thread around 1.30pm for a special social afternoon celebrating Girls Aloud's music. Thread Bar are also kindly donating 20% of their takings to Sarah's Appeal for The Christie.

Guests on the tour will receive a special wristband and pin badge from The Christie who will have a presence at Thread on the day.

We hope you can join us to support this great cause and celebrate the life of Sarah Harding in the town that became her home. All proceeds from this event will go to The Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal at The Christie.

The Stockport Music Story commemorative plaques have been made possible with funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. #ukspf