The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
RAF veteran inspired many to sporting prowess
Air Cadets in Inverness formed a guard of honour at the weekend as they said farewell to one of their founding members.
The Inverness 161 Squadron lined-up in tribute at the funeral of Alexander Sutherland at the Huntly Street Methodist Church on Saturday.
Mr Sutherland helped set up the cadets in 1941, before joining the RAF himself.
He trained as a fighter pilot then joined Bomber Command and successfully flew 15 operations over occupied enemy territory.
The navigator and wireless operator received the 1st Class Good Conduct Badge and, six decades later, in 2012, he was invited to the unveiling of the Bomber Command Memorial by the Queen in London.
Mr Sutherland placed a message within the memorial to comrades who did not make it back.
An Inverness native, he was born in Anderson Street on August 19, 1922, a first son for William and Jessie Sutherland, and was later joined by a brother and sister, Billy and Nancy. He attended Merkinch Primary School, followed by the newly opened Inverness Technical School, now Inverness High School.
One of his formative experiences came when his Uncle Jock took him to the original Inverness Swimming Pool on Montague Row – sparking a lifelong love for the sport which led to him becoming a founding member of the city’s swimming club and going on to teach thousands of children to swim.
He coached hundreds of competitors and continued to take part in competitions himself into his late 80s.
He also won a string of awards, including being named Sports Personality of the Year Unsung Hero in 2007, being made a life member of Scottish Swimming, being made an MBE for voluntary services to the sport and having the Executive Room named after him at Inverness Leisure.
He was also a keen mountaineer and traveller and he founded the Inverness Mountaineering Club, scaled Mont Blanc, and was later made an honorary life member of the club.
One of his proudest achievements was being made custodian of the remote bothy at Shenavall at the foot of An Teallach.
A former county librarian who later worked for the housing department, Mr Sutherland died aged 91 on April 16 following a period of illness and leaves his wife, Rhoda, sons Graham and Lawrence and grandchildren Lauren and Fraser.
His son Graham said: “Dad was a man who inspired many in his great passion for hillwalking and swimming.
“For many, he was synonymous with swimming in Inverness. He gave a lot of his knowledge and skills to youngsters, so his legacy will continue.”