3 THE  ART OBSERVER June 2007 1. ‘The Ringley Village’ L.S. Lowry 2. L.S. Lowry with ‘Tanker entering the Tyne’ 3. Oil painting by Arthur Delaney 4. ‘The Viaduct’ previously owned by Sir Alec Guinness L.S. Lowry 5. L.S. Lowry (seated) with Ivan Aird as a young boy and his father George (standing) 6. ‘The Surgery’ L.S. Lowry 6 2 3 4 5 TIB LANE GALLERY - END OF AN ERA IT WAS THE  END  of an era when, on 31st March 2007, Tib Lane Gallery closed its door on the final day of its final exhibition. Tib Lane Gallery has been regarded as the most respected private gallery in Manchester during its almost fifty years of exhibiting some of the finest estab- lished and lesser known artists working in the UK from the 1930’s to the present day. The name of Adolphe Valette, L.S. Lowry’s art teacher, will always be linked with Tib Lane Gallery, where in 1970 his work was shown for the first time since his departure from Manchester in 1928.   Tib Lane’s founder, the late Geoffrey Green, together with his wife, Jan, ensured the impeccable reputation of this distinguished gallery. It was, for those who appreciated and collected art, one of the focal points of Manchester.   When Geoffrey, an immensely skilful sculptor and painter who worked under a pseudonym, left to concentrate on his own work, Jan continued to run the gallery and did so for the next twenty three years.   This was Jan’s poignant announcement to all those who had been associated with the memorable Tib Lane Gallery: “Having worked at Tib Lane Gallery for forty five years I have decided not to continue. The gallery will close permanently on Saturday, 31 March 2007 - two years short of a fifty year span during which nearly four hundred exhibitions have taken place. There is no knowing how much I will miss the demands made by a commitment to this enterprise which has for so long made my life such a pleasure and privilege. To all artists, collectors, galleries and enthusiasts both past and present, without whom I would have had no role, I gladly pay tribute and express my admiration, appreciation and gratitude. To my late husband Geoffrey Green (the sculptor Adrian Sorrell), who opened the Tib Lane Gallery in July 1959 and remained its creative force until 1984, I owe everything.” Jan Green  March 2007 On behalf of everyone who has been associated with Jan, in whatever capacity, we all wish her well. Personally I have always enjoyed the working relationship that Jan and I have shared within the art world - I now look forward to seeing her more often. Wendy J Levy Some of the stolen works were of sentimental value... George Aird, Ivan’s father was Lowry’s friend and framer