Alec Sutherland

Alexander Ross Sutherland (19 August 1922 – 16 April 2014) was a Scottish Royal Air Force (RAF) airman. As a teenager he helped establish the Inverness squadron of the Air Training Corps, becoming their first senior non-commissioned officer. Enlisting with the RAF, he became a bombardier/radio operator, flying ten bombing raids over Germany with No. 5 Group RAF in Avro Lancasters during World War II.

A librarian in civilian life, he competed successfully in swimming competitions into his late 80s, coached swimming and participated in competitive water polo, gaining various awards and honours, including an Order of the British Empire (MBE). He was also an expert mountaineer and taught children about his experiences in the RAF.

Early life

Sutherland was born in Inverness, Scotland, on 19 August 1922. He was the oldest son of William and Jessie Sutherland and his siblings were brother Billy and sister Nancy. His father was the chief clerk at Inverness railway station. He was educated at Merkinch Primary School and Inverness Technical High School.

Military service

Sutherland aspired to be a pilot, but his night vision was impaired by snow blindness. He joined the Air Defence Cadet Corps in 1940 and with the founding of the Air Training Corps in 1941 he helped establish the Inverness squadron, In May 1945, after VE Day, Sutherland performed in London for the RAF at a celebratory Aquacade swimming show to music. His scheduled assignment to the Far East was rescinded when the Japanese Empire surrendered at the conclusion of the war. garnering several gold medals in the veteran sections meets,

He was a hillwalker and mountaineer, climbed Mont Blanc, and was a founder of the Inverness Mountaineering Club. He became an expert on the Cuillins, Cairngorms, and Glen Affric's hills and was custodian of the bothy at Shenavall, below the An Teallach massif. He was a county librarian and taught children competitive swimming skills. In 2002, he carried the Commonwealth Games baton. In 2007, he received gold medals at Masters swimming in Manchester. In 2007, he was awarded the BBC Scotland Sports Personality of the Year's Unsung Hero Award. Inverness Leisure named an executive room in his honour. He participated in the procession of the Riding of the Scottish Parliament.

The British Government chose not to strike campaign medals for Bomber Command because of the civilian deaths during the 1945 Bombing of Dresden. In 1984 the Air Marshal Arthur "Bomber" Harris's widow led the failed effort to create belated commemorative medals for members of Bomber Command for their contribution to World War II. While recognizing the bombing was brutal and relentless as the war in Europe came to a close, Sutherland said it was necessary. He taught children about the history of the RAF. He showed them his personal memorabilia, including his flight suit and a swastika flag received from a former prisoner of war Sutherland helped after release. In 2012, he attended the unveiling of the RAF Bomber Command Memorial. Sutherland placed a message to his fallen compatriots within. He was a recipient of the Bomber Command clasp.

Personal life

Sutherland met his wife, Rhonda at a dance in 1951, and they were wed the following year. They had two sons and ran a bed and breakfast.

On 16 April 2014, Sutherland died following a period of illness. His funeral was at the Huntly Street Methodist Church. Air Cadets of the Inverness 161 Squadron in Inverness acted as an honour guard during the ceremony.