MB ChB Manch 1940, MD 1959; DCH Eng 1947; MRCP Lond 1950, FRCP 1972.
Steward established paediatric oncology as a specialty in the United Kingdom, and was responsible for the development of the Children's Tumour Registry in Manchester. Steward was born in Hertfordshire on 28 April 1917 and was educated in New Zealand before studying medicine at the University of Manchester. After qualifying, Steward held house appointments at Ancoats Hospital and Crumpsall Hospital, and served as a captain in the RAMC. He then started his paediatric career with resident appointments at Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, St Mary's Hospital and Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. Steward was affected by a limb-girdle muscular dystrophy which led him away from clinical practice towards paediatric pathology. In 1953 he was appointed research fellow in charge of the Children's Tumour Registry at the University of Manchester, for which he was largely responsible. He was promoted to lecturer in 1960 and to senior lecturer in 1966. In 1972, Steward was also appointed honorary consultant to Christie Hospital. He published a number of articles on tumours in children. Steward was a member of Manchester Medical Society and the British Paediatric Association. He died on 20 June 1975. His son, William Patrick Steward (MB ChB Manch 1977) was also a clinical oncologist.