Our Patron – Kathryn Spink

Kathryn Spink is the author of numerous acclaimed books which have sold worldwide in over fifteen languages. She is the recipient of two Christopher awards, the citation for which reads: ‘Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness’.

Born in a Himalayan hill station, she spent her childhood in the British embassies of Bonn and Vienna and has a Masters degree in modern languages from St Anne’s College, Oxford. Having travelled and researched extensively throughout the world, she is also a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Her authorized biography of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a New York Times bestseller, has given rise to invitations to contribute to television programmes and podcasts, and to speak at many venues, including the United Nations.

Her involvement with Udayan and a number of other Indian NGOs really began with her English translation of Dominique Lapierre’s international best-seller about the indomitable spirit of Calcutta’s poor, City of Joy. She was subsequently appointed UK coordinator for the Friends of Udayan and in 2000 Dominique and Dominique Lapierre made her managing trustee of City of Joy Aid, UK, a position she occupied until 2024.