Veteran broadcaster Allyson Hennessy left an indelible mark and impacted the lives of her friends and colleagues she worked with.In an interview yesterday, Errol Fabien, founder of Gayelle The Channel television station had this to say about his friend of more than 30 years: "Allyson certainly left a mark not just on me, but I think on most television practitioners."Fabien added: "She always had insights on everything she interviewed you about. She did her research and home-work on her topics. Allyson was as real and genuine as they come."She was really into all that was T&T. Allyson didn't pretend when she didn't like something," he continued.
"I felt more than proud, happy and honoured when she hosted with some younger girls a programme on Gayelle called the Box, which was the last television series that she did."Fabien described it like the passing of the baton and "like a training ground."He said: "Although you had Penny and different people who hosted with her, who are very experienced, Allyson brought leadership and experience in the guts and heart of the industry."He said Allyson did a lot for him as an entertainer inviting him on her Community Dateline show to discuss what was going on in his life."I feel the loss but I also feel joy that she has gone on to her next calling," Fabien said.
Dateline was Allyson
One of Hennessy's original co-hosts on Community Dateline since 1981, Judy Chong-Dennison, television producer and marketing director of JCD & Associates Ltd, said about her friend: "What I remember and admire about Allyson is her spontaneity."She said: "Going in as a young presenter at the time, I really marveled at her capacity to talk and interview anyone on any subject, from a little old lady who would come in with white shoes and hat to superstars and politicians."Chong-Dennison revealed that Hennessy was cool, calm collected and unruffled when interviewees didn't show up and she would be able to talk through the programme. "Allyson was Dateline and Dateline was Allyson," she said.
Alcantara remembers
Hennessy's longest co-host on the popular Dateline programme, Judy Alcantara, said: "Working with Allyson was the best experience I ever had. We clicked, we were not just co-presenters, we became very good friends."Alcantara added: "Our presence together really just worked, it was like a good marriage. She was such a beautiful person to work with."She revealed that Hennessy was also a talented producer."She was great on set and also fantastic as an outside broadcaster," she said.
"Her gift was her ability to make people feel at ease. She herself was such a genuine, warm person and exuded this."Alcantara reminisced about their times playing mas together in Harts and Hennessy's love of the steelband Desperadoes.She said: "On the working side she was so professional she could switch from feteing and liming and get in that studio and put on her professional demeanor."Alcantara concluded: "We are sad but she would want us to remember her that way so full of life. For those who believe that there is more, which I certainly do, that she will be a real angel looking over all of us."