Allyson Hennessy’s sister, Rosemary Hezekiah, offered this remembrance of her to the Media Association. Mrs Hennesy passed on May 07, 2011.

Allyson Hennessy, nee Hezekiah, attended the Holy Name Convent in Port of Spain and left Trinidad in her pre-teens to attend boarding school at the Ursuline Convent in Barbados and then at Ursuline in Westgate on Sea, Kent, England.  

After leaving school, Allyson enrolled at the Cordon Bleu School of Cooking in London, from which she successfully graduated and was immediately hired by the school as a Sous Chef.

While living in London as a young adult, Allyson met her future husband, Emmett Hennessy – a musician and actor.  After spending many years in London, Allyson returned home in the early 70’s and began a catering business.  

She got her start in television doing cooking demonstrations.  A natural in front of the camera, Allyson soon started co-hosting a morning programme “Community Dateline” on TTT  – some of her co-hosts over the years were Wilbert Holder, Judy Alcantara, Wendell Constantine, Dominic Kalipersad, Gail Bindley Taylor & Lisa Wickham. 

She eventually hosted her own shows, “Dateline” and “9-12 with Allyson” where she became a household name.

Despite having spent her formative years outside of Trinidad & Tobago, Allyson’s deep love for this country was her signature.  

This was reflected in her approach to her television shows which she used as a forum to showcase this country’s people and our rich culture.  

She believed that we must stop looking outward and begin to recognise our great worth as a nation.

Allyson was an avid supporter of the steelband (her love of Desperadoes was well known), calypso, soca and carnival and for many years worked on the television broadcasts of Carnival shows, except on Carnival days when she had to play her mas.  

Allison Henessy at the Queen’s Park Savannah with Harts, 1987. Photo by Mark Lyndersay.

She was a great believer in pre-show research and became known for her ability to give insightful information and background to her audiences on the costumes and  performances. 

Allyson had a gift for making her guests  feel at ease. She always said that the secret of a good interview was to avoid trying to demonstrate how much you knew on the topic, but to allow the guest to be the one to provide the information. All you needed to do was ask the right questions.  

Allyson was also a champion of many non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) and used her programmes to promote their causes.

She saw it as her mission to give a voice and a platform to the people who tirelessly and selflessly work for the betterment of our society.  

She also supported many charities without ever publicising her participation.

Allyson will be forever remembered as a woman who loved and embraced life to the fullest.  

She carried us all along with her on her joyous journey through life and those of us who knew her, consider ourselves lucky to have been part of her journey.