An Altrincham band is set to honour the ‘Bravest Little Street in England’ with a very special performance at the Goose Green Summer Music event this weekend.
The event – which takes place on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th August between 2pm and 8pm – will feature The Guestlist, a new band formed this year by students from Altrincham Grammar School for Boys who had previously played in the school’s award-winning Swing Band.
At 2pm on Sunday, they will be performing their first release “161”, which tells part of the story of Altrincham’s Chapel Street, the “Bravest Little Street in England”.
Today it’s a paved walkway that leads you down the side of the Phanthong Thai restaurant – but 100 years ago, it was the cobbled entrance to Chapel Street, a nondescript cul-de-sac of some 60 Georgian terraced lodging houses, home to around 400 Irish, English, Welsh and Italian lodgers.
During the First World War, from the 60 terraced houses on the street, 161 men and boys volunteered for the army, and 29 of them never returned home with a further 20 succumbing to their injuries soon after returning home. So great was its sacrifice that King George V called Chapel Street the ‘bravest little street in England’.
The Guestlist’s lead singer, Cai Alty, walks past the Chapel Street plaque every day on his way to school and felt inspired to write the song, a story of family, community, memory and loss.
He said: “Writing 161 made me appreciate the sacrifice that the boys before me had made so that I could be here, and I’m proud to be from Altrincham.”
The Goose Green Summer Music event programme, which has continued on every weekend throughout August, has featured unsigned artists, talented soloists and bands, and this weekend’s line-up includes Jess Kemp, The Panamas, Rosellas and Hollows.
Mandy White, Altrincham’s BID Manager, said: “We look forward to welcoming many visitors to Altrincham this weekend. Come and listen to the incredible live music and enjoy the wonderful hospitality the town’s awesome cafes, bars and restaurants provide.”
