Described as "always clever with paper and print", Whitney came to the print industry via an artistic and marketing background and developed an interest and talent for cardboard engineering.

Educated at Burnley College School of Art, he spent time working in California as a furniture refinisher in his early twenties before returning to the UK to join Accrington-based greeting card publisher Hambledon Studios.

In 1982 he joined computer services and supply business P&P, which was founded by lifelong friend Peter Fisher, who said: "When I started P&P and moved back to the Rossendale Valley, Paul started preparing adverts for me part time, and eventually full time.

"Paul has always been clever with paper and print and really knew how to market products - he had become an expert in using Google analytics and most of [Whitney Woods] business is export now."

Whitney, together with Chris Woods, founded the print finishing company Whitney Woods in 1992. The company employs in excess of 20 people and in recent years has expanded into the production of pop-up marketing products.

Whitney listed his main achievements as "being able to help YTS youngsters on a career path whilst influencing others to adopt a good work ethic based on common sense" and - on founding his own business - "starting a company with Chris without two halfpennies to rub together between us and guiding it through two recessions and one major robbery to enter our 20th year in business in 2011".

Whitney died on 1 June after a long battle with bowel cancer. A memorial service was held at Waddington Methodist Church on 11 June. The family has requested that donations in his memory go to Cancer Research - http://donateinmemory.cancerresearchuk.org/0001501.