Editor’s Pick of the Week: Religion brings harmony to Ripon and Harrogate’s superstar GP

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It’s often said that religion divides, but it brought harmony to Ripon this week when the city took the national spotlight.

The BBC chose Ripon Cathedral for its live Easter Sunday service, which was immediately followed by the Pope’s Easter blessing in St Peter’s Square. That’s some joint star billing to live up to.

With security checks and cameras everywhere, there was tension in the air as people arrived, but the cathedral put on an hour-long service that portrayed Ripon in a great light. You can watch it on iPlayer here.

The city’s politicians turned Ripon into a bit of a laughing stock last year with their bitter feuds — this week its clergy restored pride.

Politicians often get a bad rap but there was an unusual outpouring of affection for one when she was announced as Harrogate’s next mayor.

Dr Viv Poskitt was one of many political newcomers last year when Harrogate Town Council held its first elections.

A partner at Moss Healthcare, and with numerous other interests, Dr Poskitt / Councillor Poskitt is a busy woman and a well-known one too, as our article about her mayoral ascension attracted near-unanimous praise from dozens of well-wishers — something almost unheard of in politics.

She even found time to write a poem expressing her feelings. Somehow I can’t see that catching on with Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch.

Ripon provided the week’s strangest story — ghosthunting adventures at two of the city’s museums.

Blackgate Paranormal, which is organising the events, say visitors to the Workhouse Museum, which dates back to 1776, often report a general feeling of unease. I'll probably experience something similar when walking into the next Ripon City Council meeting on Monday.

Ripon threw up another ancient treasure this week, with the news that a medieval well had been discovered in the heart of the city.

Knaresborough provided the week’s local sporting hero. Golfer John Parry, now based in America and playing on the PGA Tour, landed a nice £120,000.

Harrogate could be celebrating its own sports star this weekend in the somewhat different shape of Luke Richardson.

The former Starbeck Baths lifeguard is aiming to win Europe’s Strongest Man for a third time in what is, frankly, likely to be a far more exciting spectacle than the US Masters golf. You can’t beat the sight of two 300 lbs-plus guys racing each other down a course while carrying something like a fridge.

One of the big stories in the week ahead is likely to be the decision on Harrogate Spring Water’s expansion plans, which is due to take place on Friday.

The issue has been rumbling and, occasionally, raging for 10 years. When it last came before North Yorkshire Council’s planning committee in October, a huge number of protestors turned up.

Will campaigners be able to rally as many troops again? Will the plans, which would see 500 trees felled, finally get approved? Stay tuned.