Algeria siege victim laid to rest in Fife

By HILARY DUNCANSON
Published on 01/02/2013 01:30

A HOSTAGE killed in the Algerian gas field terrorist siege has been remembered at his funeral as a “humble, kind and generous man”.

Between 250 and 300 mourners gathered at Kirkcaldy Crematorium in Fife yesterday to pay their last respects to 59-year-old Kenneth Whiteside.

The father-of-two, a planning manager at the In Amenas desert complex, died at the hands of Islamic militants last month.

Originally from Glenrothes, Fife, Mr Whiteside lived in South Africa for many years with his wife and daughters.

“Everybody simply warmed to the lovely, warm, friendly, cheery-dispositioned man that he was,” independent celebrant Denis Madden told the gathering.

“Really he was just this lovely, humble, kind and generous man.

“He was an absolute delight to be in company with.”

Mr Madden said the well-known and well-respected man would be “sorely missed by so many people”.

Alluding to the events in 
Algeria, Mr Madden told mourners: “Of course we are gathered here today because this man, Kenny, was sadly taken from our midst just while going about his duty.

“He was taken by men who knew nothing of the warmth, the love, the peace and the family contentment that this man gave.”

Mr Whiteside was one of two Scots confirmed dead as a result of the terrorist siege of the In Amenas gas facility last month.