The famous comedian was born at 23 Durham Street, Stockton, in a part now demolished. He was the son of a Scots father and a Yorkshire mother, who were briefly resident in the town. They had met in Hartlepool. Hay worked with Fred Karno from 1908 before establishing himself in his celebrated role as the bumbling schoolmaster. His fine sense of timing enabled him to become a successful cinema performer and he made 17 films in all. A self-educated man, Hay was interested in astronomy and discovered a white spot on Saturn in 1933. He was a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.