Maeve Stewart

-Maeve born in Galway (15/03/1923)

-Attended girls’ grammar school run by the nuns, near the Shannon

-Won singing contests, was going to train as a singer in Italy but the outbreak of WWII dashed her plans

-Attended Galway University, studied science and chemistry but didn’t like it, switched to medicine (5 year course)

-After qualifying she worked as house physician at Galway Hospital, caring for TB patients (worked on her own, very stressful)

-She wanted to become a surgeon but thought she would face difficulties as a woman trying to enter the profession, chose to become an anaesthetist

-Met Jim at St. Andrews Hospital when both were working there, married in 1954.

-Left work when young Jim was born (1955)

-Much later, when the family was living in Bexley, Maeve returned to work doing child clinics at schools. She specializing in handicapped children