Kathleen Warner

Kathleen Warner, née Kathleen Davis (1903-December 1996), was a Trinidadian actress and radio personality, also known as "Aunty Kay". 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. 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. A biography of her was being written by Tony Martin.

Kathleen Davis was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Together with her two older sisters, Meta and Beryl, she completed her education in Britain, attending Redland High School, near Bristol, and later studying medicine in the UK.

Becoming an actress, Kathleen featured alongside Paul Robeson in the London stage production of the play Stevedore, by Paul Peters and George Sklar, which opened at the Embassy Theatre on 9 May 1935, with a cast that included Black actors of American, West Indian, African, and English background. A notice by Nancy Cunard in The Crisis said: "Kathleen Davis as 'Ruby' and the Gold Coastian Ahuma as 'Joe Crump' are both beautiful and have great personality."

Kathleen Davis was also in the cast of the 1936 play about Toussaint Louverture by C. L. R. James (her friend from Trinidad) that was staged in London's West End starring Robeson. In addition she acted in several films, including in a leading role in Debt of Honour (1936), starring Leslie Banks.

Returning to Trinidad after the outbreak of World War II, Davis began the broadcasting career for which she is best remembered, as the children's presenter "Aunty Kay". Back in England for the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, she took part in a celebratory BBC Children's Television programme, together with Boscoe Holder, Sheila Clarke, Billy Sholanke and the Russell Henderson Steel Band.

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