St. Macartin's Cathedral
Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
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Adele Kerr MBE
Adele has been married to Andrew for 20 years and they have one daughter Alex, two dogs, a cat, a rabbit and a variable number of goldfish!
Tell us about your early days?
I was born in Belfast in 1967 and grew up on the outskirts of Lisburn with Mum and
Dad and my younger sister Andrea. I was baptised in Lisburn Cathedral but attended
St Hilda’s C. of I. The rector was Hueston McKelvey who later became The Dean of
St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast and was also the Scout Chaplain. When we moved house we attended Derriaghy Church, which is actually our family church and this is where I taught Sunday School and is the church Andrew and I were married in. I was in Bunnies (now Rainbows), Brownies, Guides and Venture Scouts, becoming a Venture Scout leader until the age of 22. Scouting played a huge role in my life and offered me so many positive opportunities and taught me skills I still use in adulthood. I camped in Castle Archdale for a whole month in 1982 as part of The World Scout jamboree and the sun shone for the whole month! This made me think the sun always shone in Fermanagh! Through scouting I completed my Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award and became a Queen’s Scout. In 1987 Scouts in N Ireland were asked to form the Colour Party for The St George’s Day Parade at Windsor Castle. I was fortunate to be selected as a member of this and was the only girl in this team of six! I will never forget the pride I felt in not only having permission to wear a saffron kilt with our Venture Scout Uniform but to represent N Ireland in such a special way. This was the first time I met Her Majesty The Queen. As she congratulated me on not only being the single female in the party but also the leader, I commented, ‘Yes Ma’am, isn’t that where a women should be? At the top!” She laughed, not sure how impressed everyone else was! I was also involved in Amateur Dramatics, playing the comedy role in Lambeg Players’ annual Pantomime at The Group Theatre.
What brought you to Enniskillen?
Marrying a Fermanagh man! We decided to settle in this beautiful county after we got married as Andrew wanted to move back home. I left my first teaching job in Whiteabbey Primary School and took up the post as Principal of Belleek Primary School, twenty years ago! When I first arrived, Enniskillen didn’t have a Marks and Spencers and I thought I would never survive but hey look at us now! I love living in my adoptedcounty, even though after all these years I am still seen as a ‘blow in!’ I get to enjoy family and friends staying with us, whilst having made new lifelong friends in Fermanagh. I would love to have time to take up golf again but in the meantime I love my Zumba classes with Dylan Quinn, walking our dogs, reading and of course precious family time. Oh, I am also known for being a bit of a shopaholic, especially for shoes!
Do you travel/hope to travel?
Andrew and I have travelled quite a lot but after our four trips to Mexico in one year, the last one for five weeks, we still can’t face long distance travel! However, we plan to take Alex back in the future, and would love to visit Australia, our retirement adventure!
Favourites in life—food/film/books?
Being a vegetarian and a fussy eater there is no point in discussing food with me as I am not passionate about it! I will read anything but not on a Kindle, I need the smell of the book! We try to keep up to date with the kids in school so I volunteered to read the first Twilight book to check suitability etc and became hooked! Oh and there is nothing I don't know about rugby—Come on Ireland!
What is your best day?
I have been so lucky in my life to have met so many people, The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on numerous occasions, Manchester United Football Team, Ulster Rugby Team, Irish Rugby Team and of course most recently The President of The United States and The PM! I have shown you a picture of my special hug!!! So I really did think about this question and this is going to sound corny, soppy but the day I married Andrew is my best day because without his support, friendship and love I couldn't do the rest! I am never going to live this down!!!!! Mind you if he had asked I might have been tempted to run away with Mr Obama!!!!!!
Have you a favourite Bible verse/hymn?
My favourite Bible verse is my old school motto, Lucerna Pedibus Meis, Your word is a lantern unto my feet, Psalm 119, V105. I studied Latin for 3 years and remember nothing but this has never left me. Life can present us all with trials and tribulations but I have always believed God has a plan for us and although we might not see it at the time, there will be a reason, so have faith. One of the most painful times we ever faced was the difficulty in not being able to become parents as we love children but what got me through was believing there was a reason, and rightly or wrongly, Alex was our reason and we truly believe God planned for us to be her parents. My favourite hymn is "Here I am Lord", I love it for its simplicity and sincerity.
Any challenges?
Being a good wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and boss! Juggling the balls is crazy sometimes but I love my life. In my early years I would have been quite opinionated but with age I have learnt tolerance and acceptance. However, I will speak out if I am suitably challenged or feel someone is being treated unfairly! I find it quite challenging to see others not being treated equally as I believe we all have so much to give, everybody has a special talent and nobody is better than anyone else. Teaching in the integrated sector has taught me so much about tolerance and allowed me to strengthen my own beliefs and be proud of my own heritage.
I was born in Belfast in 1967 and grew up on the outskirts of Lisburn with Mum and
Dad and my younger sister Andrea. I was baptised in Lisburn Cathedral but attended
St Hilda’s C. of I. The rector was Hueston McKelvey who later became The Dean of
St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast and was also the Scout Chaplain. When we moved house we attended Derriaghy Church, which is actually our family church and this is where I taught Sunday School and is the church Andrew and I were married in. I was in Bunnies (now Rainbows), Brownies, Guides and Venture Scouts, becoming a Venture Scout leader until the age of 22. Scouting played a huge role in my life and offered me so many positive opportunities and taught me skills I still use in adulthood. I camped in Castle Archdale for a whole month in 1982 as part of The World Scout jamboree and the sun shone for the whole month! This made me think the sun always shone in Fermanagh! Through scouting I completed my Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award and became a Queen’s Scout. In 1987 Scouts in N Ireland were asked to form the Colour Party for The St George’s Day Parade at Windsor Castle. I was fortunate to be selected as a member of this and was the only girl in this team of six! I will never forget the pride I felt in not only having permission to wear a saffron kilt with our Venture Scout Uniform but to represent N Ireland in such a special way. This was the first time I met Her Majesty The Queen. As she congratulated me on not only being the single female in the party but also the leader, I commented, ‘Yes Ma’am, isn’t that where a women should be? At the top!” She laughed, not sure how impressed everyone else was! I was also involved in Amateur Dramatics, playing the comedy role in Lambeg Players’ annual Pantomime at The Group Theatre.
What brought you to Enniskillen?
Marrying a Fermanagh man! We decided to settle in this beautiful county after we got married as Andrew wanted to move back home. I left my first teaching job in Whiteabbey Primary School and took up the post as Principal of Belleek Primary School, twenty years ago! When I first arrived, Enniskillen didn’t have a Marks and Spencers and I thought I would never survive but hey look at us now! I love living in my adoptedcounty, even though after all these years I am still seen as a ‘blow in!’ I get to enjoy family and friends staying with us, whilst having made new lifelong friends in Fermanagh. I would love to have time to take up golf again but in the meantime I love my Zumba classes with Dylan Quinn, walking our dogs, reading and of course precious family time. Oh, I am also known for being a bit of a shopaholic, especially for shoes!
Do you travel/hope to travel?
Andrew and I have travelled quite a lot but after our four trips to Mexico in one year, the last one for five weeks, we still can’t face long distance travel! However, we plan to take Alex back in the future, and would love to visit Australia, our retirement adventure!
Favourites in life—food/film/books?
Being a vegetarian and a fussy eater there is no point in discussing food with me as I am not passionate about it! I will read anything but not on a Kindle, I need the smell of the book! We try to keep up to date with the kids in school so I volunteered to read the first Twilight book to check suitability etc and became hooked! Oh and there is nothing I don't know about rugby—Come on Ireland!
What is your best day?
I have been so lucky in my life to have met so many people, The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on numerous occasions, Manchester United Football Team, Ulster Rugby Team, Irish Rugby Team and of course most recently The President of The United States and The PM! I have shown you a picture of my special hug!!! So I really did think about this question and this is going to sound corny, soppy but the day I married Andrew is my best day because without his support, friendship and love I couldn't do the rest! I am never going to live this down!!!!! Mind you if he had asked I might have been tempted to run away with Mr Obama!!!!!!
Have you a favourite Bible verse/hymn?
My favourite Bible verse is my old school motto, Lucerna Pedibus Meis, Your word is a lantern unto my feet, Psalm 119, V105. I studied Latin for 3 years and remember nothing but this has never left me. Life can present us all with trials and tribulations but I have always believed God has a plan for us and although we might not see it at the time, there will be a reason, so have faith. One of the most painful times we ever faced was the difficulty in not being able to become parents as we love children but what got me through was believing there was a reason, and rightly or wrongly, Alex was our reason and we truly believe God planned for us to be her parents. My favourite hymn is "Here I am Lord", I love it for its simplicity and sincerity.
Any challenges?
Being a good wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and boss! Juggling the balls is crazy sometimes but I love my life. In my early years I would have been quite opinionated but with age I have learnt tolerance and acceptance. However, I will speak out if I am suitably challenged or feel someone is being treated unfairly! I find it quite challenging to see others not being treated equally as I believe we all have so much to give, everybody has a special talent and nobody is better than anyone else. Teaching in the integrated sector has taught me so much about tolerance and allowed me to strengthen my own beliefs and be proud of my own heritage.
Adele gets a hug from President Barack Obama at the time of the G8 conference in June 2013, David Cameron looks on, awaiting his turn!