A FORMER Greenock resident has told of his delight when he spotted drawings of his home town on the walls of a pub more than 3,000 miles across the Atlantic.

Malcolm Linn, 76, was born and raised on Barnhill Street in the east end before moving to Southampton with his wife, Jeanne, in 1967.

The pair recently travelled to Burlington in the Canadian province of Ontario – where Malcolm’s two sisters moved to 48 years ago – to attend a family wedding.

During the visit, Malcolm took his relatives out for a meal at a pub named the Royal Coachman in Waterdown – a village which lies around 35 miles west of Toronto.

Greenock Telegraph:

While admiring the art hanging on the pub’s walls, the former Ferguson’s shipyard worker was stunned to see a scene he knew very well.

Malcolm told the Tele: “I kept looking at this drawing and I just couldn’t believe it.

“Here I am miles away from home – I still see Greenock as my home – and I said to my wife, ‘that looks like Bank Street!’.

“I turned around and as soon as I saw Princes Pier I said ‘that’s definitely Greenock’.”

A server told Malcolm that the artwork had belonged to the pub’s previous owner, who sold up and left everything behind.

Greenock Telegraph:

In a further remarkable twist he went on to discover that the sketches were the creations of his childhood friend – Eric Robertson - whose work he has had in his own home in Southampton for many years.

Malcolm said: “This artist, Eric Robertson, I used to play with him when I was five-years-old.

Greenock Telegraph:

“He’s an artist from Greenock - I just think it’s amazing to see his work miles away from home.

“I was taken aback by it. It really did make my evening.”

The nostalgic surprise left Malcolm, a former Tele delivery boy, reminiscing about his childhood in Greenock – specifically his time spent with Eric.

Greenock Telegraph: Eric's drawing of Belville School, which Malcolm has had at his home for many yearsEric's drawing of Belville School, which Malcolm has had at his home for many years (Image: Malcolm Linn)

The pair were playing at Malcolm’s home when his younger brother was born, with his mother taking inspiration as she chose the name Eric for the newborn.

The two Erics later went on to work together at IBM.

Malcolm added: “It’s just amazing what’s come from those childhood memories.”