Editor’s Pick of the Week: Mega payoff, Knaresborough snub and Ripon Runners

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How much would you be happy to receive as an exit package from your job? How about £322,000?

That’s how much one North Yorkshire Council employee received, as we discovered buried in the local authority’s latest annual accounts this week. It’s about twice the amount Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer earns in a year.

It’s even more than Harrogate golfer John Parry earned in the Kenyan Open last weekend.

A freedom of information request is winging its way to Northallerton after the council refused to name the recipient. It’s only taxpayers’ money, after all.

It’s been another good week for Stray Ferret subscriptions — thanks to all those who have signed up. Crime articles continue to appeal. One of this week’s cases was about outraging public decency at the Hydro or, as nobody calls it, Active North Yorkshire – The Harrogate Leisure and Wellbeing Hub. Why use one word when you can use nine, and a hyphen?

The court heard the man was caught on underwater cameras at the council-owned leisure centre. Apparently, they are widely used as a safety measure, which surprised many people, including us journos.

Rebel Wilson, Kiefer Sutherland and Danny Dyer may have moved on from Knaresborough after filming their Christmas movie, but their presence continues to be felt.

Councillor Matt Walker, who represents the town on North Yorkshire Council, called for the £10,000 paid to the council by the film production company to be spent in the town.

Conservative Cllr Simon Myers, the council’s executive member for culture, arts and housing, flatly rejected the plea, but not before referring to Conyngham Hall as Coningsby Hall.

Finally, as a very veteran runner I am in complete awe of former Harrogate pupil George Mills, who scorched across 3,000 metres in Birmingham in a time of seven minutes and 40 seconds last weekend to obliterate the British indoor record.

Don’t try that at home — but do try one of the local park runs, which are held every Saturday at 9am at Fountains Abbey near Ripon, Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough and on the Stray in Harrogate. They are a fantastic way to start the weekend, whatever your level.

Ripon Runners is celebrating its 40th anniversary at the Fountains Abbey run today. The setting could hardly be better and neither could the weather. Welcome to spring.