A MANAGING director has warned of the dangers of heavy drinking and smoking in a self-penned obituary released after his death from cancer.

Paul Whitney, who was 59, said he had packed a lot into his life which he said overall ‘wasn’t a bad innings’.

But he revealed his regret that he had spent 35 years heavy drinking and smoking which was ‘probably not the wisest move I ever made’.

The friend who released the obituary said Mr Whitney, who lived in Waddington, felt drinking had shortened his life considerably and wanted to warn others about the effects.

Mr Whitney, a former Burnley College of Art student, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in May 2009. He died in the early hours of Wednesday.

Following his diagnosis Mr Whitney married Kath, his partner of 17 years, at Clitheroe Registrar Office and began preparing for his future, including arranging his own funeral and memorial service.

He also prepared his obituary to be sent to the Lancashire Telegraph.

This contained biographical details of his achievements as well as the following quote about his ‘life’s regrets’: “I believe that most mistakes become lessons and soon fall into the category of ‘life’s rich tapestry’, but I cannot help thinking that adopting and maintaining a 35-year social life based on heavy drinking and smoking was possibly not the wisest move that I ever made.

“I didn’t half pack a lot into the time that I’ve had. Overall, it wasn’t a bad innings was it!”

Friends said Whitney, was a ‘talented’ and ‘kind-hearted’ person who would do anything to help others.

They also said the joint managing director of the printing company, Whitney Woods in Rawtenstall, was a ‘talented artist and photographer’ who always lived life to the full.

His wife, Kath, said: "He was a very strong character and a very driven person.

"He was thoughtful and always put others first and he would do as much as possible to make sure that people were ok.

"He was a marvellous and amazing husband."

Mr Whitney was bedridden for the last few months of his life but continued to run his business and instruct his employees.

Kath said: “He wanted to make sure that everything was okay after he had gone and even though he was really ill he never stopped and even made conference calls from his bed.

“He thought about everything from organising his own funeral to choosing the hymns for the memorial service."”

The couple were due to celebrate their second wedding anniversary on June 27 this year.

Kath added: "He didn't quite make it and I am going to miss him so much.

“He worked as hard on his social life as he did on his business and he was so much fun.

"But a few years ago his friend died of liver failure and it transpired that he was an alcoholic and it shocked Paul and he decided that it was time to change our routine and he started drinking less, quit smoking and began going to the gym.

"And we were enjoying life so much when we were told that he had cancer and didn't have long to live. We're all still in shock about how quickly it happened."

Friends said Mr Whitney, who grew up in Hareholme, Rawtenstall, was a busy guy with a social life to match and he had his regular pub haunts and could drink up to 15 pints on some nights.

Multi-millionaire Peter Fisher, who founded Rossendale computer giant P&P, met Mr Whitney at Bacup Royal Grammar School.

Mr Fisher said: “He knew when the end was coming and he left me many instructions and one of them was to put together his obituary.

"Paul was a fantastic, talented artistic guy who we will all miss so much because he had such a profound effect on so many people's lives.

"And he was sad that his life had been shortened because he wanted to do so much especially with Kath and if he was here today he'd tell people not to drink as much because of the consequences.”

Sohail Bhatti, interim director of public health for NHS East Lancashire, said there was ‘no doubt Mr Whitney’s drinking and smoking would have contributed to him succumbing to bowel cancer’.

He added: “There is a huge amount of evidence over the last 30 years about how alcohol and tobacco smoke cause, promote and affect your ability to fight cancers.

“It is very easy to adopt these habits when we are young when we think that we will live forever and we don't appreciate the risks.”

Mr Whitney, a supporter of Blackburn Rovers and Rawtenstall Cricket Club, requested that his family did not attend his cremation with his ashes being delivered to his wife.

Friends would be able to remember him at a memorial service in Waddington Methodist Church on Saturday June 11 at 2pm and afterwards at Waddington Social Club.

Mr Whitney is survived by his mother Dorothy and sister Gaynor.

Donations have been requested for Cancer Research at http://donateinmemory.cancerresearchuk.org/0001501