Mr Whiteside was the founder of Whiteside Taxis and was a man of some importance in the then young town of St Annes, which he helped to build.
One of Mr Whiteside's ancestors, David Stocker, who lives in Texas, sent the Express some pictures of Whiteside family heirlooms and gave us this detailed account of the life of this local entrepreneur:

Thomas Whiteside had farming in his blood. He was born in 1861, the fourth child of William and Betty Whiteside who leased Leach Farm at the junction of Leach Lane and Division Lane, now Blackpool airport.
In 1872, just months after the birth of his seventh child, Thomas' father committed suicide – "cut his throat whilst in an unsound state of mind", says his death certificate.
Thomas' destiny was sealed when, in 1880, he won a harness in a raffle. He borrowed a horse and cart from his family and began conveying everything from building materials to furniture.
Thomas married "the girl next door", Isabella Ormond, of Leach Lodge farm and they soon moved to Park Road where Thomas established a stable.
Thomas quickly built up his business in cabs, haulage and removals. He contracted with builders, the co-op, the railway and the council.
It was Whiteside's horses that pulled the St Annes fire engine and the St Annes lifeboat. Thomas contracted with the lifeboat to provide twelve trained horses and six experienced horsemen to drive the team of six pairs.
By 1908, Thomas Whiteside employed 50 men and 70 horses.
On September 2 he was on his way home from the horse auction at Poulton when he was thrown from a dog cart in Marton.
He died from his injuries, aged 47.