Editor’s Pick of the Week: Tim Stedman returns, Knaresborough intrigue and a sleeping councillor

If there’s one thing more pleasureable than watching Tim Stedman on stage in the Harrogate panto, it’s meeting him in real life.

Tim joined the great and the good of Harrogate — plus a few of us journos — at this week’s launch of a Harrogate Christmas song, which it is rather optimistically hoped will be a festive number one.

It was a fun gathering organised by hotelier Simon Cotton and nobody was more in demand than Tim — so much so that he had to give up trying to finish a bacon butty. He spared me a few minutes and was, yet again, charm personified. What a legend. Look out for the article this weekend.

Tim may electrify audiences but this week’s meeting of North Yorkshire Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area committee appeared to have a more soporific effect on one councillor.

Whether it was the length of the meeting, which stretched to over four hours, or the dulcet Wearside tones of Councillor Michael Harrison, who was speaking at the time, Cllr Robert Windass appeared to drift off.

Watch the video here and scroll forward to two hours, six minutes and 35 seconds and see what you think. To be fair, Cllr Windass wouldn’t be the first one to find it hard going.

There have been few more bitter battles in the Stray Ferret’s near five-year history than the doomed attempt to create a Knaresborough Business Improvement District in 2021.

Like Brexit, the issue caused divisions that continue to exist so there was excitement and irritation in equal measure this week when a leaflet landed in traders’ letterboxes reviving the idea and urging recipients to scan a QR code for further details.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the leaflet. But pressure for another vote could increase in 2025 if the plotters gain traction and reveal themselves.

Whatever the business divisions, you have to hand it to Knaresborough. The town could teach Harrogate a thing or two about how to stage a community event. Last night’s Bright Friday typified this, and although there was excitement about the start of the 17-day Harrogate Christmas Fayre yesterday, Knaresborough’s two-day Christmas Market next weekend has more stalls.

The nearby Christmas tree festival at St John’s Church in Knaresborough also gets underway next weekend and is a real delight. Knaresborough is definitely the place to be next Saturday and Sunday.