Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding honoured in 'absolutely mint' mural in Greater Manchester town where she grew up
03.05.2024 - 16:05
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A mural of Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding has appeared on a wall in Stockport - the town where she grew up.
The singer, who was part of the girl band since their inception on Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, tragically passed away at the age of 39 in September 2021 after she was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer.
Later this month, the band - made up of Cheryl, Kimberley, Nadine and Nicola - will head out across the UK as part of their The Girls Aloud Show tour, which the group has said will be held as a celebration of Sarah’s life. Sarah moved to Stockport as a child and lived there before finding success on the ITV reality TV show.
READ MORE: Girls Aloud 2024 tour dates and how you can still get tickets
In what is set to be a special and poignant night for the band and their fans, Girls Aloud are set to perform in Manchester on three nights from May 23 to 25 at the AO Arena. Ahead of the tour, and to raise awareness of breast cancer, one street artist has created a stunning mural of Sarah on the side of a pub in Stockport.
The artwork, which can be found on the side of the former Royal Oak pub on High Street near the town’s Underbanks, features a portrait of the singer in front of a pink background whilst on the logo of The Christie, where Sarah was treated, sits on her shoulder.
Artist Deggy, who hails from Glossop, said he began working on the mural on Sunday before completing it on Thursday afternoon (May 2). Speaking to the M.E.N, the artist said he created the work, after receiving a grant from Stockport Council and the Arts Council, to raise awareness of cancer and to also celebrate the singer.
“The idea came about after I began discussing ideas with my brother-in-law Mark,” Deggy, who is also the bass