KATHLEEN “AUNTY KAY” WARNER

Click here to eIn today’s feature of ‘’Heroes of Trinidad & Tobago’’we highlight the matron of Broadcasting KATHLEEN “AUNTY KAY” WARNER
(1903 – 1996)
She was a Trinidadian actress and radio personality, also known as "Aunty Kay". A multi-talented woman, she was during the course of her life a medical student, pianist, singer, actress, dancer, broadcaster and teacher, giving lessons in music and elocution, as well as briefly serving as an alderman of the Port of Spain City Council.
She is best remembered as the long-time host of the popular children's Programme The Aunty Kay Show, which aired from 1942 to 1985 on Radio Trinidad every Sunday afternoon.
As Aunty Kay, she became a popular broadcaster on Radio Trinidad, hosting one of the most important shows for young people of the time, which ran for 43 years (1942–1985) and "featured mostly talented young people from the low-income areas who came every Sunday to display their singing talents. What was particularly striking about the show was the theme song. One of Auntie Kay's signature items was her eloquence in grammar, this always struck many as ironic because the theme song was filled with slang."
The Aunty Kay Show provided an early platform for many of Trinidad and Tobago's performers to make their debut as youngsters, including Heather Headley, Lancelot Layne and calypsonian Slinger Francisco, better known as The Mighty Sparrow.
In 2006, she was posthumously honored with an Award for Excellence by the Trinidad & Tobago Publishers & Broadcasters; Association, for her ‘’Outstanding & Pioneering Contribution to the development of radio in Trinidad & Tobago’’, with special emphasis on providing an avenue for the exposure of young talent and contributing to the overall development for young people’’. Also, on July 21st 2007 she was one of 10 women remembered as having ‘made a mark in culture’’. (Source:  Anything News, May 19)