Bouverie Anderson Stuart, popularly known as 'Andy', was born in Sydney as one of twin boys but he had one older and one younger brother as well. He lived a long and interesting life until his death at 94 years. His father, Sir Thomas Peter Anderson Stuart, was a prominent figure in the medical world, being the founder of the University of Sydney medical school, appointed from Edinburgh in 1882 as Professor of Anatomy and Physiology at Sydney. Bouverie also had a notable connection through his mother, Dorothy Primrose, being related to Lord Rosebery of Edinburgh. His wife, the former Linda Caldwell, predeceased him. He was survived by a son and a daughter.
After secondary education at Barker College, Bouverie proceeded to Sydney University graduating in Medicine in 1923. He was an undergraduate at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) and subsequently served a residency there in 1924-5 including an a appointment as assistant resident radiologist.
At RPAH he was influenced by two established honorary visiting radiologists, Dr William Dight and Dr Roy Sear (qv 1) of whom he had a high opinion. The latter was a senior radiologist at Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, which allowed Bouverie to extend his developing radiological interest and knowledge by attending Dr Sear's reporting sessions there. After this early training he travelled overseas to England. On returning to Sydney, he entered private practice in Macquarie Street, which was the primary site of consultant medical practice in Sydney at that time. In the early 30s he moved into the new BMA Building, setting up rooms that were most impressive for that era. As this practice grew larger Bouverie acquired partners of suitable age, experience and connections. At various times he held honorary consultant appointments at some of the main teaching hospitals, Royal Prince Alfred, St Vincent's and the Royal Alexandra. He also visited some army establishments, a carry over from his service as a medical officer (AAMC Reserve). He had helped the army to develop a miniature chest film examination for assessment of recruits. This method continued in use for a number of years when pulmonary tuberculosis was more common.
Dr Anderson Stuart was most successful as a consultant radiologist, with his sound knowledge of medicine, a progressive attitude, an engaging personality and natural business ability. He contributed much to his medical specialty, taking a prominent part at the inaugural meeting of the College of Radiologists (Australia & New Zealand) as it was then known. He published papers on degenerative changes in the spine, diagnosis of gall bladder disease and radiological aspects of hydatid disease. He introduced cholecystography to Australia after visiting the originator, Dr Evarts Graham, in New York.
Bouverie was a man of great foresight. His practice in Macquarie Street thrived partly because of its location in the busiest medical building in that area in the 1930 to 1960 period, but there was, in addition, extensive support from elsewhere. Radiological practice was vastly different in those days before the establishment of medical centres adjacent to large hospitals. Even so, a small extension of the practice was started in North Sydney. Bouverie could see that development of the near northern suburbs would occur in future years even when there were only about five multi-storey buildings on the north side. So it is not surprising, when support for his ideas was lacking and possibly for other reasons, that he left Macquarie Street for the small North Sydney practice which then migrated to the new (and first of its kind) North Shore Medical Centre across the road from the Royal North Shore Hospital. This practice also flourished and he continued there with new partners until his retirement about 1970.
Bouverie had a pleasant personality with a keen sense of humour. The gift of being an excellent storyteller was reflected in his ability as an after dinner speaker. His passion for impressive cars was well known – Cadillac or Mercedes, for example, when the latter were few and far between. There existed a friendly rivalry in this regard between some visiting consultants at some teaching hospitals. This was still an era of well known medical 'characters' and Bouverie was one of them. He was fastidious about his clothes, with a reputation for dressing elegantly.
Away from medicine he enjoyed golf, being a member of two of Sydney's leading clubs and he also had an interest in gardening. In mid-life he became a devotee of the NSW South Coast where he built a weekender at Bawley Point. He relaxed there with old friends, fishing and exploring lobster holes. He was much attached at one stage to two beagles, uncommon in Sydney at that time. 'The Girls' would greet him at Mosman wharf on his way home. He later took up residence at Chinaman's Beach on Middle Harbour where he spent years in retirement before his death in 1993.