Tribute to equal rights champion Liz Hankin who died aged 83

Liz Hankin, formerly Liz Bargh, died in May after falling ill at a restaurant in the Portuguese municipality of Faro. She was 83.

Following her tragic death, her husband Mark Hankin led tributes to his wife, who devoted her life to making sure women could access the same opportunities as men in their working life.

(Image: Mark Hankin)

Mr Hankin said it was fate that brought the pair together, after they shared a dinghy while on a sailing holiday on the Greek island of Paxos.

The pair immediately bonded over their love of sailing and in 1997, they were married.

Mr Hankin, 69, said: "I was 15 years her junior but I struggled to keep up with her. She would just never stop having fun and lived life to the very full.

"I will remember her as somebody who was always positive - she never complained and would never let others do it either."

Born in Wimbledon, Mrs Hankin grew up in Essex before settling in Norfolk in 1981 - first in Norwich and then in Burnham Market.

When she was 21 years old she began working for Marks and Spencer, where she became a staff manager, but returned to education in her mid-30s as a mature student at Essex University.

Her rich career saw her work stints at the Industrial Society and the Equal Opportunities Commission, before she was recruited by a lobby group called Opportunity 2000, of which she became a director.

Throughout her work life she fought for equal rights in the workplace - particularly for women.

In a 1997 interview, she told the Guardian: "I hate to see people's talents wasted. I believe passionately that all individuals be treated independently of what labels are put on their social or racial groups."

Liz and Mark Hankin (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Hankin added: "I would like her to be remembered as someone who made a real difference in her working life and ensured a lot of women - and men - saw how important it is to have a balanced workforce."

In their almost 30 years of marriage, the pair sailed the world together, including a decade living in the Caribbean before returning to Norfolk, eventually living in the village of South Creake near Fakenham.

Her proudest professional moment came in 2000, when she was made an OBE in the first honours list of the new millennium for her services to women in the workplace.

Mr Hankin said: "She was very surprised when he opened the letter and was extremely excited to meet the late Queen.

"She was incredibly proud to visit Buckingham Palace and receive her honour."

Away from her professional life, Mrs Hankin was constantly busy, supporting many different causes.

She was a founding member of the Bunrhams Tennis Club and helped negotiate a site and raise funds to build tennis courts in the village.

She was a dedicated trustee of the charity Rescue Wooden Boats, was a member of the Coastwatch, and just before her death was due to start volunteering in the Wells Lifeboat charity shop.

She was also a mother to 59-year-old Hilary and grandmother to Benji, 24.

She died just over a week before her 84th birthday, while holidaying in Portugal with her husband.

An inquest into her death which opened on Tuesday heard she had fallen ill, was admitted to hospital and died on May 1.

A secular celebration of her life was held on Thursday, June 27 at the Thursford Collection and was attended by more than 100 of her loved ones.