MB ChB Manch 1942, MD 1958; FRCP 1958.
Stanbury, known as Bill, was born in Oldham and studied at the University of Manchester, gaining a number of academic distinctions. After serving in the RAMC, Stanbury returned to Manchester and joined the medical professorial unit as registrar. He held a number of research fellowships, was appointed lecturer in medicine in 1951 and in 1958 was granted consultant status. He became reader of medicine at the University of Manchester in 1960 and in 1965, was appointed professor of medicine. From 1963, Stanbury was in charge of the newly opened Wellcome Metabolic Ward at MRI. Stanbury's research interests began with renal physiology and disease, but later turned to the study of bone. In 1973, Stanbury was appointed to another chair of medicine at Manchester. Stanbury was president of Manchester Medical Society in 1984, its 150th anniversary.