TRINI FAMILY VALUES

BY ALLYSON INGRID WILLIAMS MBE

A LEGACY OF SERVICE, CULTURE, AND EMPOWERMENT

ALLYSON INGRID WILLIAMS –A LIFE OF PURPOSE

Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Allyson Williams came to Britain during the Windrush era to train as a nurse and midwife. Despite facing racism, she built a 40-year NHS career, specialising in midwifery—a role she saw as a privilege and responsibility.

She championed home birth services and led projects that supported pregnancy as a normal life event, while also earning both her BA and MSc during her NHS tenure. Her leadership transformed maternity care across London.

In 2003, Allyson was awarded an MBE for her outstanding contribution to midwifery. Her work wasn’t just clinical—it was advocacy. She fought for compassionate care and empowered both midwives and mothers.

Outside of healthcare, Allyson co-founded Genesis Mas Band in 1980 with her husband, Vernon. Still active in Notting Hill Carnival, Genesis celebrates Caribbean identity and honours the legacy of enslaved ancestors.

In retirement, Allyson continues cultural and charitable work. Her memoir Tell Me Something I Don’t Know and recent Lifetime Achievement Awards from the University of Westminster and MBCC charity mark a life of impact and inspiration.

SYMONE WILLIAMS –ART, RESILIENCE & CARNIVAL SPIRIT

Symone, born in 1976, is Allyson’s daughter and a powerful extension of her legacy. Raised on Trinidadian values, she thrived in sport, dance, and music—playing steel pan from the age of 10 and performing across Europe and the Caribbean.

A natural leader with creative flair, Symone became an internationally recognised costume designer, with work featured in Trinidad, Nigeria, the Seychelles, and beyond. Despite surviving a stroke and heart surgery, she remains deeply active. A passionate long-distance runner, she’s completed over 50 races and co-leads two running clubs with her partner Gerard, the Running Mayor of Kensington & Chelsea.

In 2023, she was honoured by Black Women Rising for her charitable and community work.

“I’m not confused—I’m a Trinidadian. I just happen to be born in London.”

Her resilience, artistry, and activism mirror the values her mother instilled: pride, perseverance, and purpose.