A heart-felt thanks to Mrs EILEEN TERNENT (nee Henshall)
I knew Eileen Ternent very well, she was a charming, shy lady who avoided publicity and even 
broadcasting journalists microphones—like mine.
Following Bill’s death, she never forgot me and we kept in touch through the years. She bequeathed to me the private collection she had of Bill’s un-issued material. So I founded the Society in order to share the gift. With his fans
Sadly, whilst Eileen was alive at the launch of the Billy Ternent Appreciation Society, she sadly never lived to see the launch of the website and experience her heartfelt desire that her husbands music would live on. Society Members will recall that in her Last Will and Testament she bequeathed me several dozen un-issued recordings of the Billy Ternent Orchestra. Just over a year ago, following a fall which prompted her to move to Sheltered Accommodation she gave me my inheritance early.
It is because of her kindness, generosity and her desire that her husbands music would continue to be heard that Billy Ternent Appreciation Society Members are able to hear these recordings released to you at regular intervals.
Billy was the greatest Musician, on many instruments, and the most clever arranger of pure Dance Music of the sweetest kind.
Frank Wappat – BBC North
Here are a few trubutes to Eileen from people who knew her:
Kenneth Lee: Life Member of the Internantional Dance teachers Association and Championship Adjudicator:
It was with great sadnesss that I heard that Eileen had passed away after a short illness. She had a brilliant career from the mid 40's onwards, winning the World Championship three times with her partner Bobbie Henderson. I first saw them dance at Leeds Dance Festival giving the most wonderful demonstration of ballroom dancing that I had ever seen. A partnership made in heaven if ever there was one. Truly the Fred and Ginger of the ballroom. The soft footwork of Bbby with the exquisite style of Eileen gave us all so much pleasure. Thanks for the memories Eileen. Now she is reunited with the love of her life, Bill Ternent, God Bless" Kenneth Lee
This is a photograph Ken sent to me of Eileen at the very pinnacle of her fame in 1951 in the motion picture "Dance Hall" with her partner Bobby Henderson. Ken goes on to say, "it sums up the glamour now alas gone from the Dance World. The band was Te Heath in the pFilm, but thye thought Ted Heath wasn't handsome enough so Geraldo fronted the Band. Jack Parnell who was on drums got sent off the set for showing off".
Lyndon Wainwright:
I first saw Eileen at the Hammersmith Palias in my early daysof dance when I used to go there to practice with Felicia. Eillen used to be a great Jive Dancer with another young lady who i never got to know. Eileen moved onto serious ballroom dancing when she partnered Bobbie Henderson and with whom she had a brilliant competitive career.
They won the Worlds Professional Ballroom Championship in Paris three years running from 1948 to 1950. Their first major British success was in 1947 coming 4th in the leading Professional Star Ballroom Championship run by the newspaper of the same name. In the next three years they were in the top three of the British Professional Ballroom Championships coming 2nd in 1948, 3rd in 1949 and 2nd in 1950 .
Bobbie had been trained in theatre dance at the Italia Conte Theatrical School as well as in ballroom and this background led the couple into a very busy career as cabaret performers culminating in a season at the most prestigious of all variety theatres, the London Palladium. Eillen has not been well for some time and we mourn the death of a lady whose achievements we should honour and remember with affection. Lyndon Wainwright.
