Writer and tireless charity worker Elizabeth Innes-Smith died in November 2009 at the age of 82.

Elizabeth Innes-Smith led the Derby branch of the Samaritans as its director and, for more than 10 years, wrote regular monthly columns in the Derbyshire Life and Countryside magazine.

The mother-of-three had also started to write a book on madness but died before completing it.

Mrs Innes-Smith, also known as Betsy Lamb, died at Abbeydale Nursing Home, in Duffield Road after two years of illness.

Her husband, Robert, 81, said his wife had always been a vivacious and popular character.

He said: "She was so feisty and so full of life and writing, poetry and literature were her passions.

"Betsy was always amusing and she will be missed by both myself and a wide circle of friends.

"She worked tirelessly for charity and carried on with her column until her final illness stopped further contributions."

Born in Whitstable, Kent, to Bertram Lamb, a correspondent for the Daily Mirror, and his wife, Greta, a writer for the Tatler, Mrs Innes-Smith moved to London in the 1950s.

She worked on several woman's magazines before becoming fashion and beauty editor of Woman.

In 1954, she married Robert in London, and the couple went on to have two daughters, Victoria and Augusta, and a son, James.

After their marriage, the couple moved to a country house in Leicestershire and, in the 1970s, came to Derbyshire when Mr Innes-Smith, also a writer and journalist, secured a job with English Life Publications.

Mr Innes-Smith said: "Betsy became chatelaine of our house in Leicestershire, as we opened it up to the public.

"We eventually moved to Derby, where we lived in an old vicarage in Swinburne Street.

"Betsy was a public-spirited person and she hosted many agreeable parties over the years."

Mrs Innes-Smith's column in the Derbyshire Life and Countryside, known as Lamb's Tales, covered different topics every month, with commentary on life and current affairs.

She also worked for the Women's Royal Voluntary Service's Meal on Wheels, along with other charitable causes, but gave up many of her commitments after falling ill.

Mr Innes-Smith said his wife had been hoping to get her book, called My Lords and Peacocks, published but did not finish it before her death.

He said: "Her life was always about journalism and writing and her Lamb's Tales was one of the most popular features in the magazine.

"She really was an amazing person."

She also leaves three grandchildren.