James Tindal SOUTTER

James Soutter's first big win was the 1910 Scottish Universities 880 yards championship. In 1911 he ran in London with Blackheath Harriers, helping them win the 1911 AAA medley relay title, also placing second that event in 1912. In May 1912 he won the 440 at the Scottish Olympic Trials, but he had a big month in June of that year, winning the 220, 440, and 880 at the Inter-Varsity Sports at St. Andrews, and then placing second to German Hanns Braun at the Scottish AAA meet. At the 1912 Olympics he was eliminated in the second round of the 400, but after winning his 800 heat, withdrew from the final on sabbatarian grounds. Britain won the bronze medal in the 4×400 relay, but could not match their heat time in the final, partially due to the ankle injury sustained by Soutter.

Soutter later became a minister serving in World War I in both France and East Africa. He then returned to Aberdeenshire where he was the minister at Advie until he retired to Edinburgh in 1956. In 1940 he married for a second time but in 1959 his wife was admitted to a nursing home. On 7 August 1959 he left his home, with his passport in his pocket, supposedly to visit his wife at the nursing home. He was never seen again and his whereabouts remained unknown. In 1967 he was statutorially declared dead after seven years absence.

Personal Bests: 220y – 22.8 (1912); 440y – 51.8 (1912); 800 – 1:56.7e (1911).