Draft:Gordon Hay

  • Comment: I am inclined to accept this article, it is well-sourced, however, I am still unsure on whether it meets notability criteria. Will leave that final decision on whether to accept/decline to another reviewer in terms of getting a second opinion. Carolina2k22(talk) 11:25, 24 October 2025 (UTC)

Gordon McKenzie Hay MBE (born 1952 or 1953) is a Scottish author, translator and former solicitor who has translated a range of works into the Doric dialect of the Scots language. He is best known for writing the first complete translation of the Bible into Scots.

Early life

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Gordon McKenzie Hay[1] was born in 1952 or 1953 and raised in Inverkeithny[2] in the historic county of Banffshire.[3] He attended Inverkeithny Parish Church which was then part of the Church of Scotland[4] and his passion for Doric was inspired by Charles Murray's poem "It wisna his Wyte", which he performed at a school concert.[5]

Career

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Hay was a solicitor when he started working on a Doric translation of the New Testament in 2006, finishing and publishing it in 2012.[6] He then began working on a translation of the Old Testament, retiring as a solicitor during this time and publishing it in 2023. While parts of the Bible had previously been translated into Scots, Hay's translation is the first to cover it completely.[7] He was invited by Jackie Dunbar, the MSP for Aberdeen Donside, to appear at the Scottish Parliament's Time for Reflection to read parts of the translation.[8][9]

In 2021, Hay published a compilation of nursery rhymes titled Doric Nursery Rhymes for Loons & Quines[10] which subsequently won the 2022 Bairns' Beuk o the Year from the Scots Language Awards [sco].[11] Other works he has translated include Peter and the Wolf[12] and parts of The Pickwick Papers[13] and George Frederic Handel's Messiah.[14]

Hay was appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire as part of the 2025 New Year Honours.[15][16]

Personal life

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Hay has 3 children and 4 grandchildren. He is an elder of the Church of Scotland,[17] a church organist[14] and the choirmaster at Longside Parish Church.[18]

Bibliography

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  • The Doric New Testament (2012)
  • Doric Nursery Rhymes for Loons & Quines (2021)
  • The Doric Aul Testament (2023)

References

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  1. ^ Amy Watson (30 December 2024). "All the Scots honoured in the King's New Year Honours list". The Scotsman. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  2. ^ Ken Banks (21 June 2023). "Lawyer translates Bible into Doric over 17 years". BBC News. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  3. ^ Lucinda Cameron; Ruaraidh Britton (30 December 2024). "Aberdeenshire kirk elder who translated whole Bible into Doric honoured with MBE". Aberdeen Live. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  4. ^ David Porter (8 October 2022). "Harvest Festival celebration at Inverkeithny". Grampian Online. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  5. ^ Neil Drysdale; Denny Andonova (21 June 2023). "Let there be fit like: Retired Peterhead solicitor translates the Bible into Doric in 17-year project". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  6. ^ "Bible's New Testament translated into Doric by Gordon Hay". BBC News. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  7. ^ David Porter (21 June 2023). "Translation of the Aul and New Testaments into Doric is completed". Grampian Online. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  8. ^ "Meeting of the Parliament". Scottish Parliament. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  9. ^ Jon Hebditch (3 February 2024). "Aberdeen man who spent 17 years translating Bible into Doric addresses Scottish Parliament". Aberdeen Live. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  10. ^ Kyle Ritchie (16 November 2021). "Aberdeenshire author releases new book featuring nursery rhymes in Doric". Grampian Online. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  11. ^ David Porter (7 October 2022). "Scottish Language Awards Bairns' Beuk o the Year". Grampian Online. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  12. ^ Kyle Ritchie (13 October 2023). "SWI group welcomes north-east and Doric expert". Grampian Online. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Kirk elder who translated whole Bible into Doric honoured". Grampian Online. 30 December 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  14. ^ a b Dawn Renton (28 June 2023). "Retired solicitor completes 17-year translation of the Bible into Doric". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  15. ^ Neil Drysdale (30 December 2024). "Gordon Hay from Peterhead who translated Bible into Doric made MBE". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  16. ^ Nick Forbes; Ruaraidh Britton (1 July 2025). "Aberdeenshire solicitor 'absolutely delighted' after receiving MBE for translating Bible into Doric". Aberdeen Live. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  17. ^ Lucinda Cameron; Ruaraidh Britton (30 December 2024). "Aberdeenshire kirk elder who translated whole Bible into Doric honoured with MBE". Aberdeen Live. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  18. ^ Lewis McBlane (30 December 2024). "Gordon Highlanders stalwart among Huntly area's three MBEs on New Year's Honours List". Grampian Online. Retrieved 2 October 2025.