Elizabeth Liddell, the founder of development charity Plan UK, died last week after a long fight with cancer.

Liddell set up the charity Plan UK, the UK branch of Plan International, in the 1980s. She was its first national director.

Today it has an income of £53.4m, over a three year average, and is number 92 on the Charity 100 Index. 

Tanya Barron, chief executive of Plan UK, said: “Elizabeth was instrumental in bringing Plan back to the UK in 1980, heading up the new office. Her drive and enthusiasm for helping the world’s poorest children left an indelible footprint and made a huge contribution to the success of the organisation today.

“She was also a personable and affable leader, getting to know her staff and taking an interest in their personal as well as professional lives. Indeed, she kept in touch with many colleagues long after moving on. She’ll be sadly missed and all of us at Plan offer our condolences to her family.”

Liddell was also the driving force behind the creation of back office service provider Charity Solutions in 1988.

Liddell received an OBE for her charitable work in India when she was chief executive of the Arpana Charitable Trust UK in the 90s.

Raghunandan Gaind, chair of Arpana, said: “She brought to her work an infectious enthusiasm, shrewd judgement and a formidable tenacity.”