SUNDAY afternoon found Spectator in Durham Cathedral for a very special occasion.

The service of Commemoration of Founders and Benefactors featured two noteworthy occurrences.

One was Lord Putnam’s “we’re all doomed if we don’t do something about climate change” sermon, the second was the choir, singing for the first time en masse with the new girls.

Admitted to the cathedral for the first time this year, the dozen young girls added a new dimension to the choral performance, helping to really fill the cathedral with sound. Although Spectator’s no musical expert, he reckoned it was about more than just cranking up the volume.

There was greater tonal breadth and very beautiful it was too.

New light

Just along the peninsula the same afternoon, a rather different celebration was taking place, the switch-on of Durham’s Christmas lights.

After the Lumiere extravaganza had lit up the city like never before only a week previously, there was a danger of the Christmas lights appearing weak by comparison.

But they looked pretty enough as Spectator came down Silver Street from the cathedral. Spectator understands the Coronation Street actors Michael de Vell and Vicky Binns picked up £3.5k for switching them on. Worth every penny, I’m sure.

New Rockliffe

Monday lunchtime saw the official opening of Steve Gibson’s Rockliffe Hall Hotel, a multi-million pound reworking of Alfred Waterhouse’s Victorian Gothic pile by the Tees at Hurworth.

As usual, the Middlesbrough Football Club owner stayed very much in the background during the formalities, but Spectator sensed great deal of pride and satisfaction in his demeanour.

It is justified. The new Rockliffe Hall is the last word in the luxury hotel, spa and golf course sphere. Very little expense has been spared to create a rival to Seaham Hall for food and accommodation and Wynyard for golf.

Spectator hopes there are enough moneyed people about to make the new Rockliffe work. One clue to the market they may hope to tap into lay in the lavatories, which are all called “restrooms”.

This may be to the taste of American golfers, but cause a little confusion among South Durham folk.