THEY are a resourceful lot in Richmondshire. Having already managed to rescue one village pub from closure – the George and Dragon at Hudswell, to the west of Richmond – the stalled bid to takeover the Travellers’ Rest at Skeeby, on the other side of the town, is now back on track.

There’s the little matter of £250,000 to find but the community pub society, formed in the village with the aim of purchasing and re-opening the moth-balled building, does at least now have a chance of negotiating a realistic chance and getting fundraising going again. They have more than 50 investors who have already pledged varying amounts. It may not be very long before “the Travs” is open again and providing sustenance to villagers and rest for travellers on the Darlington to Richmond road.

Spectator will endeavour to be first through the door.

• TRADITIONALLY, freshers students can expect a warm welcome on their arrival at Durham.

Not so this time around it would seem.

Around 30 freshers at two St Cuthbert’s Society halls have had a chilly reception after a gas leak in South Bailey and further complications during the repairs have left the college kitchens out of action and no heating or hot water for a couple of weeks.

Spectator will refrain from pandering to unfair student stereotypes, so wouldn’t suggest for a second that the freshers probably won’t miss access to hot water for washing and will get a head start in making Pot Noodle their staple diet.

However, he sincerely hopes their problems are fixed before they learn just how cold a Durham winter can be.

• A VERY friendly PR lady has been on the phone about last week’s piece about the Scotch Corner Hotel’s new beginnings after its multi-million pound revamp. The Scotch Corner name does, in truth, live on because the new name, in its glorious entirety, is the “Holiday Inn Darlington A1 Scotch Corner”. What a mouthful.

Despite Spectator’s faux pas, he’s on the VIP list for the opening on November 25. We’ll report back.