My recent story about the Victoria Burns Club prompted a response from a Greenock reader.

He and his brother have books of Burns poems which were prizes won by their late mother.

The back covers of the books are embossed in gilt and carry the words 'Greenock Victoria Burns Club. Children's Annual Competition.' There are also references to the club being instituted in 1915 and being number 234 in the Burns Federation.

My reader's mother received the books as second prizes in 1928 and 1929.

He told me: "I can recall my late mother telling me her teacher 'made' her sing 'John Anderson, My Jo' both years.

"This was not my mother's choice and she always said if she had been allowed to sing her preferred song she was sure she would have got at least one first prize." My reader believes the club was connected with the Victoria Bowling Club in East Crawford Street.

I have a Greenock directory for 1928/29, the years my reader's mother won her prizes.

It includes the Victoria Burns Club and lists the following office-bearers: Dr Milne, honorary president; Kenneth Cameron, president; John Anderson and James Kennedy, vice-presidents; Robert Beith, secretary; J S Ferrier, treasurer.

After checking these names against addresses in the directory, it appears the Victoria Burns Club certainly had an east end connection.

There is only one Dr Milne listed.

He was a physician and surgeon with a surgery at 3 Morton Terrace. His private residence was Hillend House, which looked on to the bowling club.

As with Dr Milne, there is only one Robert Beith and one J S Ferrier.

Robert Beith was a shipwright who lived at 4 Moffat Street and John S Ferrier was a plater residing at 10 Carwood Street.

Although there is no James Kennedy listed at an east end address, there is a possibility John Anderson could have been the turner who stayed at 9 Morton Terrace or the engine driver who lived at 4 Oakfield Terrace.

In the case of Kenneth Cameron, he could have been the painter whose home was 56 Belville Street.

Incidentally, my reader's mother, Agnes Davidson, was brought up in Belville Street.

We now know when the Victoria Burns Club started and that it more than likely was connected with the bowling club of the same name, perhaps holding meetings in the latter's clubhouse.

Hopefully, someone may yet advise when the club ceased to exist.