PICTURE 1: There are few social events that can rival the celebration of Scotland’s poet Robert Burns for hearty food, conversation and witty rapport. 

With that in mind I have chosen some of my favourite Inverclyde Burns pictures from the Telegraph archive.

Inverclyde has a rich association with the Bard, not least of all thanks to the Greenock Mother Club and Gourock Jolly Beggars Club, which was founded in 1883. 

The Mother Club was inaugurated in Greenock in 1801 but held their first Burns Supper possibly as far back as 1759. 
Burns has a broad appeal as these pictures show, and I hope they might bring back happy memories to the people involved. 

Before the Mother Club opened their beautifully presented Burns room at Greenock’s Custom House last year, the room, which is a treasure trove of Burns documents and artefacts unrivalled anywhere locally, was to be found within the Watt Library on Greenock’s Union Street. 

The Telegraph ran a feature on the club and its extraordinary collection and this shot was the centrepiece. 

PICTURE 2: In 1996 Greenock Burns Club held a gala, part of which featured a performance by Greenock Players. I took this picture of performers of ‘The Kindled House’ Alan Taylor, Liam Smith and Fairlie McGill when they got into character for a rehearsal. 

PICTURE 3: Greenock Burns Club members are seen here before they headed off to celebrate the memory of Robert Burns in Russia, a country where the great poet is still held in reverence. 

The picture was taken at the Tontine Hotel in 1996. The memory of Burns lives on, and, as these pictures have shown, suppers are still held in his honour in Inverclyde and are well attended. 

The Burns Suppers themselves are as popular as ever and, for me, it is always a pleasure and privilege to be invited along for the photocalls in order that each one can eventually take its place in our archive. 

PICTURE 4: The memory of Robert Burns is very much alive to this day in Gourock, where the Jolly Beggars hold their annual supper. 

This picture, taken in 2000, shows pupils of Gourock Primary School who took part in the Jolly Beggars Burns Competition, an annual event which helped encourage youngsters to learn about Burns and memorise his great works. 

The competitions ensured that kids would be able to recite the poems of Burns long after leaving school. 

PICTURE 5: The Greenock Burns Club celebrated its 196th year at the Tontine Hotel in 1998 and this shot shows the top table and special guests. 

The Tontine Hotel in Greenock’s west end has been the location of the event for many years and indeed continues to be the location of what is thought to this day to be one of the world’s best Burns Suppers.