Keith Stephen WHITE [2540]

  General Notes:

Kieth has long been involved in political activity to improve the lot of his fellow man.

Excerpts from Keith's funeral 26 Jan 2024.
Graham -For me he provided a role model, particularly of male friendship. He would freely admit that he loved his closest friends and talk about important things with them rather than hide behind the mundane

Alan - He took lots of joy from his life, considering himself one of the luckiest people alive …In recent years I took to spending Sunday afternoons with my kids at Mum and Dad's house discussing politics and current affairs while the kids played … no longer being able to do that leaves an unfillable void

Stephen - I never met another man with a heart as big as his … his capacity for compassion … any person having a bad day, for whatever reason, he had a way of feeling their pain, a way of sympathising with them whatever their struggles, and he had a way of telling them that, whether that be with his eyes or his words. Dad dreamed of a world without borders … he was angry at those looking down on others while the working class struggle.

Anthony - There is so much of Keith in me that I don't know where to start … Throughout my life Keith constantly enhanced and expanded my world … we didn't talk much about politics when I was young but it was the music, books, films etc that he introduced me to that have shaped my social and political thoughts … Trish has said she loved to hear our phone conversations as there was so much laughter …Keith had an encyclopaedic knowledge on which I drew constantly …

Laurie Matthews - Keith and the Books - I will never forget what Keith did for me and my kids and I believe my family will always remember too. I owe him for the precious books which I still have, my kids' photos and albums, my precious memories, but most of all I owe him for restoring my faith in humanity. Words alone cannot adequately express or do justice to the incredible and inspirational deed that Keith did for us that day, and then forgot. He is a truly unsung hero.

Mathew Jones - It is an honour to speak about my friend Keith - a person who stood all his life for truth and for the liberation of humanity as a socialist … Keith rejoined the Labour Party as part of the movement to support Jeremy Corbyn and quickly became central to the running of NE Fife CLP due both to his huge political experience and his regard for people. It must have been an experience to be in meetings run by Keith at that point in his life.

Barry Turner - Keith's great friend also spoke but from his notes rather than as a written out speech.

As you can imagine last year was tough and I miss Keith enormously. i was dreading the winter months on my own and Alan's wife, Haozhen, wanted to return to China for 4 months so I offered to help Alan look after his three girls and they moved in here. Haozhen has just returned but because Alan has been doing renovations on their house and it is not yet livable in they are all now staying here

This comes with my love and I hope you are keeping well

Julia

Keith married Living