A special fundraising event to celebrate the life and legacy of Sarah Harding is being held in her hometown of Stockport next month.
The late singer – who was one fifth of one of the UK’s most successful girlbands, Girls Aloud, before she sadly lost her life to breast cancer at just 39-years-oldback in September 2021 – grew up in the Greater Manchester borough of Stockport, and attended high school and college there, as well as working several jobs, all before she auditioned for Pop Stars: The Rivals in 2002.
Greater Manchester was already a big part of Sarah’s life, but following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2020, it became even more important, as she was treated at The Christie hospital in Manchester.
Her final wish before she sadly passed 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 was then launched in her legacy, and is supported by Sarah’s family, friends, and Girls Aloud bandmates, as well as Dr Sacha Howell – who was Sarah’s consultant at The Christie.
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A Sarah Harding commemorative plaque is being unveiled at special fundraising event in Stockport next month / Credit: The Christie (via Supplied)
But now, to go one step further in honouring Sarah’s life and music legacy, a special plaque will be unveiled on High Street, close to the Little Underbank in Stockport, next month, and the grand unveiling will be part of the new ‘Stockport Music Map Tour’, created and hosted by John Barratt, who is renowned for his work promoting Stockport’s rich musical heritage.
The tour will start at midday outside Thread Bar on Market Street, with an introduction by John, who’ll walk everyone to the site of the plaque – which will be located next to the Sarah Harding mural, created earlier this year by street artist Degsy on the side of the former Royal Oak on 11 High Street.
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Then, following the plaque unveiling, John will conduct a Stockport Music Map walking tour around the sites of other commemorative plaques and significant locations that have played a pivotal role in Stockport’s vibrant music history.
Those on the tour will get to remember Sarah’s formative years in Stockport, before she went on to achieve global success with Girls Aloud.
Funds will be donated to both The Christie Charity and the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal / Credit: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
A Girls Aloud-themed party will then take place after the tour at Thread Bar, as well as showing screenings of the band’s performances, and 20% of the bar’s takings on the day are to be donated to both The Christie Charity and the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal.
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“Sarah was such a huge part of Stockport’s story, and her journey from here to the global stage is truly inspiring,” event organiser, John Barrett, commented.
“We’re honoured to celebrate her legacy while supporting The Christie Charity, and the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal. This event is all about fundraising for The Christie Charity, keeping Sarah Harding’s memory alive here in Stockport, and continuing her mission to promote early detection of breast cancer in young women.”
John is hoping that the event can be made into an annual occasion, if it proves to be successful this year.
The Sarah Harding Plaque Unveiling and Walking Tour will take place in Stockport on Sunday 6 October.
Tickets for the event are £15 each, which includes a Christie wristband and pin badge, the plaque unveiling, guided music tour, and entry to Thread for the party, and you can grab yourself some here.
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Any further donations to The Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal can be made here.
Featured Image – The Christie (via Supplied)
News
BBC issues statement after UK forecast shows ‘hurricane force winds’ up to 14,000mph
Daisy Jackson
The BBC has issued a statement after alarming people across the UK with a weather forecast of hurricane force winds and temperatures of up to 400°C.
Mancs woke up this morning stunned to see predicted wind speeds of up to 14,000mph.
The alarming weather report hit the BBC Weather app today while Hurricane Milton batters Florida across the pond.
One person shared on X: “I guess we need to batten down the hatches with 26,898 mph winds today.”
Another asked: “Why isn’t this forecast making the news? 14,712mph wind sounds dangerous to me!! I’m going back to bed.”
But now the BBC has rushed to reassure people not to be ‘alarmed’ at the prospect of the entire island blowing away.
BBC presenter and meteorologist Simon King shared: “Oops, don’t be alarmed by some of our @bbcweather app data this morning.
— Barefoot Spooky Bartender 👣💀🍹 (@barefoottiki) October 10, 2024
“Be assured there won’t be 14408mph winds, hurricane force winds or overnight temperatures of 404°C.
“It is being looked at and hopefully sorted asap.”
BBC Weather shared: “You may have noticed some data issues on our app and website. We are working hard to fix it quickly. Sorry – please bear with us.
“In the meantime here are Thursday’s weather headlines: -Colder, clearer air moving in -Rain and drizzle in south -Blustery showers near east coast”
And national treasure Carol Kirkwood said live on air: “We are having a technical glitch at the moment. It’s showing wind speeds far too fast, in fact, hurricane strength and that is not the case at all.
“Please don’t be alarmed. We are aware of it and on it.”
At the time of writing, the BBC Weather forecast service is still predicting hurricane force winds for the UK. Eek.
BBC issues statement after UK forecast shows ‘hurricane force winds’ up to 14,000mph
New 44-storey skyscraper proposed that could change one of Manchester’s most famous views
Emily Sergeant
Plans for a massive new 44-storey residential skyscraper in the heart of the city centre have been revealed.
But does this mean it could change one Manchester‘s most famous views?
Located on what has been referred to as a “prominent site” adjacent to Deansgate train station and Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop at Whitworth Street West, these dramatic proposals would see the development of 364 apartments set over 44 storeys – with more 7,750 sq ft of active space on the ground, first, and second floor levels.
Developers Glenbrook say the building has been designed to “respond to the city’s heritage”, most-notably through its three-storey arched terracotta colonnade at street level.
Well-lit new green spaces, the enhancing of existing pedestrian routes, and seamless integration with the surrounding communities, all form part of the landscaping proposals for the bold new project.
“As a Manchester-based developer, we are excited about the prospect of embarking on a landmark development in the heart of our city, admitted Daniel Roberts, who is the Development Director at Glenbrook, as the proposals were unveiled this week.
“Whitworth Street West is undergoing a period of revitalisation, and Glenbrook are incredibly proud to be playing such an integral part in its future.”
A CGI of a proposed skyscraper on Whitworth Street West in Manchester / Credit: Glenbrook
A public consultation on the plans has now been launched, and will be live up until 28 October, as well as a dedicated in-person event, where representatives from Glenbrook and the design team will be on hand to answer questions and gather feedback, scheduled to take place at HOME MCR on First Street from 3:30-7:30pm on 15 October.
Residents, businesses, and interested stakeholders will have the opportunity to view the plans in detail, and provide their thoughts on the proposals.
The view of what Whitworth Street West currently looks like in October 2024 / Credit: The Manc Group
According to developers, the feedback gathered during the consultation will play a key role in shaping the final planning application – which will be submitted to the Manchester City Council in the coming months, and ultimately ensure the development meets the needs of the community.
Emily Sergeant -
18th September 2024 
