A SCHOOL librarian has produced what is believed to be the first accessible Scots translation of the Declaration of Arbroath.

Thomas Clark, of Hawick, worked alongside friend Ashley Douglas to complete the piece, which is now displayed on the website of the National Library of Scotland.

Mr Clark, 39, told us: “What was really gratifying was seeing so many people realising they’d been missing a Scots translation.”

The 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath’s creation was on April 6. The document’s most famous excerpt is a statement of Scottish independence.

Mr Clark, who works at Hawick High School, has previously completed Scots translations of a number of popular books.

The focus of his latest effort, however, was rather different in style to previous inspirations, which include Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

It took Mr Clark and Ms Douglas around three months to convert the Declaration into our native language.

Asked where his interest in Scots came from, Mr Clark said it was his move to the Borders 13 years ago which kick-started his love affair.

“I spoke Scots in Hamilton and so did my friends but I was under the impression it was just bad English – it was knocked out of you,” said Mr Clark.

“But then I came to the Borders and found that a lot of people not only spoke Scots, but spoke it without a social stigma.”

Reflecting on the Declaration, Mr Clark believes Scots have a strange relationship with the document.

“It’s funny that we have this text that’s basically the birth certificate of the whole country, but there’s not a lot of knowledge about it,” said Mr Clark, going on to outline his views on its significance.

“At root, it’s a revolutionary document. It’s a country asserting its right to be a country and its right to choose its own ruler.

“We should be a lot more proud about Scotland being one of the first countries to assert itself in this way.”

Mr Clark says he supports Scottish independence, but he is keen for the Declaration to appeal to nationalists and unionists alike.

He said: “I think it’s really important the Declaration of Arbroath is not part of a political wrangle. People of every stripe in Scotland should see this as being part of the heritage.”