Adèle was born in Kanpur, India, but travelled to England with her family at the age of three, where she grew up in a leafy suburb of London.
She completed her High School education in a Convent School, where she discovered a fascination with Science, particularly Chemistry.  After attaining ‘A Levels’ in Chemistry, Physics and Pure and Applied Mathematics, Adèle searched for a Higher Education Course that appealed to her. She found such a course at South Bank University in London, which was pioneering the study of Polymer (Plastics) Technology, a science that was in its infancy at that time.  Of especial appeal, coming from an all girls Convent School, was that the other students were all male; she signed up on the spot.  The course was of four years duration, spending six months of each year at University, and six months working in the plastics industry, which was very exciting. She graduated with a 2:1 Honours degree, the first female to do so.
Adèle spent the next 4 years working full time in the plastics industry, including two years at a research establishment examining the effects of radiation in restructuring polymers to make them suitable for space rocket applications.
Adèle retired from full time work to start her family of a son, followed by two daughters.  During their early years she did work part time in various jobs, including teaching folk guitar at an adult education centre.  Along with becoming a SCUBA Diver Instructor with the British Sub-Aqua Club, she discovered a love for teaching.
When her youngest daughter was old enough, Adèle took a course of Post Graduate Teacher Training, and started work in a Further Education College in Kingston upon Thames, in South West London.  The College catered for students from sixteen years and upwards, so teaching was wide ranging.   Over the next twenty two years, she taught Chemistry, Science, Engineering Materials and a variety of other subjects.  She rose from a lecturer, through a course tutor, finally becoming Head of Science Department for the last of her six years at Kingston College. 
Adèle retired in 2003, and in 2004 moved to Koh Samui, and in that same year, joined the Rotary Club.