Late Lyme teacher at the heart of school life (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Late Lyme teacher at the heart of school life

10:45am Thursday 25th June 2009

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HILARY Warne was a teacher at Lyme’s Woodroffe School for 30 years until her death recently.

As well as being head of home economics and a popular teacher at Woodroffe, she was at the heart of school life and a mother figure to pupils and staff alike.

Hilary – also known as Hils – died aged 55 last Monday.

All at the Woodroffe School are said to be shocked and saddened by the news, and former deputy head John Haylock said Hilary would be sorely missed by her colleagues and students.

Mr Haylock said: “Hils was a popular and highly effective teacher. Like all the best teachers she liked young people and had an instinctive awareness of how to get the best out of them.

“Both my children speak very highly of her – they especially remember her no-nonsense, down to earth approach coupled with a deep sensitivity and a fierce compassion that would move mountains if that were required to help one of her pupils.

“As well as a warm heart, Hils had a wonderful sense of humour. Her sudden brilliant smile and her infectious roar of laughter were common features of our staffroom.”

Hilary Warne, nee Knight, was born in Parsons Green, London, in 1953 and attended Ranelagh School in Berkshire.

She did her teacher training at Seaford College, East Sussex and began her teaching career at a school in Dalston, East London.

Hilary met Martin in 1973 and they were married in July 1977.

She was appointed head of home economics at the Woodroffe School in 1979 at the relatively young age of 26 and has since only taken a short career break in the early 1980s when Erica and Tom were born.

As a superb cook, Hilary often supervised the catering at staff social events. “It was all part of her nature,” said Mr Haylock. “She looked after people, she nurtured them, she fed them.”

Mr Haylock said he would like to finish his tribute on a lighter note, ‘because I know that is how she would want it’. He said: “Hils’ meringues were generally considered to be the finest in the known universe.

“I don’t know if meringues are allowed in heaven – but if they are, then paradise is about to get even better!”

The funeral will be held tomorrow at 1pm in St Mary’s Church, Bridport.

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