The nickname “Ming” derives from the traditional Scots pronunciation of his name “MING-iss”, although “MENZ-ees” is the prevalent pronunication in the civilised world (and Australia). When Scots first began to be widely written in the sixteenth century, the letter pronounced most like an English “Y” was, in its written form, virtually indistinguishable from the English letter “Z”. Hence the old name for Shetland being “Zetland” pronounced “yetland” and Menzies being pronounced “Ming-yis”.

He does not drive a Mercedes Bing.