Duckers & Diving: A Sad Farewell to Number Nine

THIS week our outsized observer bids farewell to a relatively short-lived but popular city institution, Number Nine The Gallery.

Great farewell bash at Lee Benson’s Number Nine The Gallery…but woe is us as the place is no more. Declining sales and a lack of support taking their toll…just as we are supposedly out of recession too.

Never mind, we went out in style with an eight hour, 1-9, wake.

It was a wonderful, crazy night, summed up by one-time Birmingham Mail stalwart, Carole Cole, turning barmaid.

Could this be a clever career move, I ask?

“I’m nowhere near buxom enough,” she maintains.

Phew!

As to Lee, the invite said it all.

He declared: “It has been a real pleasure to fly the flag in the city of Birmingham.

“There has never been a gallery like Number Nine. We pushed different barriers and enjoyed exhibitions, shows, music, TV appearances, children’s parties and a host of other things.

“Sad Café played their first ever unplugged gig to be the final such musical extravaganza in the life of Number Nine.

“I am sad but cannot thank everyone enough for all the support over the years. I’ve just found the opening photos from December 1999. Oops, where has my hair gone?

“To all the staff who helped make the gallery, I thank you. And thanks to all of you who have purchased and hopefully still enjoy your art.”

Lee plans to continue as an art consultant, there is talk of writing more children’s books of which he is adept, and he has developed this ‘healing hands’ gift where he helps ease people’s aching limbs.

The troops were on sparkling form.

Peter Steer, ex-Birmingham Forward man, got his rocks off when Lee insisted he disappeared with a slab off a Devon beach.

And he even got Lee to sign it.

“It might be valuable one day.”

Unlikely. Probably a bit like my stamp collection – it could come unstuck!