Adele was an inspirational teacher to many. She knew her students well and how to motivate them. She enjoyed many a discussion, both in German and English, pushing students to express their views well and with confidence - from high-brow literature, art, film and politics to fashion! Adele was always full of interesting ideas and different perspectives - she was an ideal candidate for teaching TOK (the IB's theory of knowledge course). Adele was a pleasure to be taught by, even when put on the spot! Equally she was a highly-valued colleague in the Modern Languages department, who had inexhaustible energy for learning more in all disciplines, exploring new ideas and places. 

Thanks to Adele we have continued the cultural input in German lessons, including making Hexenhäuser and seeing the Adventskranz in the lead up to Christmas. She was a driving force in maintaining the German Exchange with our partner school in Munich, an exchange which has been going on for over 30 years. With Claudia, Adele supported exciting additional trips to Lübeck, Berlin and Hamburg. 

Adele worked for many years closely with Maria Thomas when she first joined the German Department and then with Claudia Freeman, who is gathering comments from former students and colleagues to share at a Celebration of Adele's Life this June organised by her children.   

Addendum: In June 2024, Stephen Perse Foundation Principal, Richard Girvan, paid tribute to Adele at the Stephen Perse Guild Reunion, saying:

“As I believe will have been the case when each of you was at the school, we remain committed to delivering academic excellence, supporting personal growth and modelling and promoting social responsibility for all our students. Our staff are key to achieving this aim and so it is appropriate here to mention the late Adele Warner, Frau Warner to many, who recently passed away. 

Adele’s memorial gathering also takes place this weekend. Claudia Freeman and I will attend with other colleagues and alumni to honour her memory and support Adele’s family, including her daughter, Jess, also a Guild member. 

On the occasion of Adele's retirement, in valediction, Claudia wrote about Adele, 'She has been an exceptional colleague and a very good friend to many of us here, an inspirational teacher who contributes with interesting ideas and perspectives.'  

For many years, Adele was a mainstay of the School’s annual exchange with a school in Germany and her passing was deeply mourned by the German teachers who had become friends over those years.

Teachers such as Adele have always worked to bring out the best in every learner and we aim to do this today across what we believe to be a dynamic, diverse and exciting curriculum and co-curriculum, inspiring every student to pursue their own educational development with ambition.”