James Tindall Soutter

The Reverend Soutter was the Minister at Whitekirk. In 1912 he won a bronze Olympic Medal for the 4 X 400m relay in Stockholm also competing in the 800m and individual 400m. He was eliminated in the second round of the 400, but after winning his 800 heat, withdrew from the final on sabbatarian grounds.

He was born in Echt, Aberdeenshire and was a Graduate of Aberdeen University. In 1913 he was appointed Minister of St Andrews Church in Nairobi. He saw war service as a Chaplin in East Africa and France between 1914 to 1917 and was Mentioned in Dispatches.  Aberdeen Journal - Thursday 13 July 1916; "He is absolutely fearless, and one can easily picture him facing anything to assist the wounded and dying, and if his back is to the wall, fighting like a Trojan. There is nothing of the conscientious objector about him and his calling is a very real thing with him". 

He returned to Scotland in 1917 to become the Minister at Whitekirk. He retired from Whitekirk Church in 1949, taking up a temporary post in 1951 in Advie, Morayshire, remaining there until 1955 where he retired to Edinburgh.

Along with other newspapers, The Aberdeen Evening Express, 8th October 1959 reported on the disappearance of 74 year old Rev Soutter for 2 months from his home 17 Howe Street, Edinburgh, having gone for a walk while his wife was seriously ill in a nursing home. Police described him as 5 foot 4 inches tall and slightly built.

He had taken his passport and his wife suggested he may have gone to France or Germany.

He was declared dead in 1966.