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April 7, 2004updated 22 Nov 2022 1:35pm

Kenneth Whitson: publisher of four Scottish weeklies

By Press Gazette

Kenneth Whitson, publisher of four Scottish weekly newspapers and a former president and current treasurer of the Scottish Newspaper Publishers’ Association, died on 26 March.

Chairman and managing director of D&J Croal Ltd, he was publisher of the East Lothian Courier, Border Telegraph, and Penicuik News.

Educated at North Berwick and Tranent primary schools, then the Knox Institute and Knox Academy, Haddington, Kenneth joined the then Haddingtonshire Courier as a junior reporter on leaving school.

With the exception of two years of National Service, he was in his 50th year of service to the paper.

He was appointed editor in 1966 and shortly afterwards joined the board of directors, later becoming chairman and managing director.

In 1987, he bought the Border Telegraph and Peeblesshire News from Scottish and Universal Newspapers.

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Many young reporters trained by Kenneth went on to successful careers in the national press, radio and TV.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret, and elder brother, Jack. His funeral was held at Mortonhall Crematorium, Edinburgh, on 2 April.

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