Paddy Phelan was born in 1942. He was educated at St Gilda’s Convent School in Hornsey and, like his brother Fr Bernard, continued his education at St Ignatius College, Stamford Hill, London. He started his working life at Joseph Rank in 1957 and moved on to Staddon Pyke and Barnes solicitors in 1958. In 1960 he joined Chisholm’s Ltd Printers, followed by the Prudential Insurance Company in 1963. In 1967 he started work at R.P Martin Co as a foreign exchange broker. He remained in the money market for the next 21 years, finally leaving “The City” in 1988.

In September 1967 Paddy married Margaret Hennighan at St. Peter-in-Chains, Hornsey. In 1969 they had their first child, Mark Austin. Mark was named after Paddy’s late father Austin. Three years later in May 1972, their daughter Naomi was born.

Since the late 1960’s and, apart from a two year sabbatical, Paddy has been the Hon. Director of SPICMA. From its humble beginnings and together with a team of volunteers like himself, Paddy was instrumental in advancing the cause of the organisation and transforming it into an internationally recognised charity. To this day he continues to drive through new practices and gives direction to meet the needs of people living in difficult and soul destroying conditions.