Joy: Official trailer
Joy is now airing on Netflix and the emotional film follows three pioneers in science and medicine who spent a decade developing IVF so infertile mothers could have children. In the film, renowned surgeon Patrick (played by Bill Nighy) is called upon by visionary scientist Bob Edwards (James Norton).
He is keen for Patrick to help him achieve the extraordinary breakthrough of in vitro fertilisation. Patrick joins the mission, but the scientific and medical communities remain sceptical and show a lack of faith and support.
The real Patrick Steptoe became the Director of the Centre for Human Reproduction, Oldham, in 1969. Here, he started his work with volunteering infertile women.
Finally, in 1978, the first test-tube baby was born and in order to train more specialists, Patrick helped set up the Bourn Hall Clinic in Cambridgeshire in 1980. He worked there as a Medical Director until his death.
He died in 1988 aged 74 in Canterbury, and had been married to Sheena Kennedy. He had two children, including psychologist and epidemiologist Andrew Steptoe.
In the 1988 New Year Honours, he was appointed a CBE, just a week after the 1,000th test-tube baby, conceived with his help, was born.
In July 2013 a plaque commemorating Patrick and his colleagues was unveiled at the Bourn Hall Clinic by the first female and first male IVF babies, Louise Brown and Alastair MacDonald.
Patrick is also commemorated with a plaque at the Maternity Ward at the Royal Oldham Hospital and at 52 West End in Witney.
Louise Brown had said: “Patrick Steptoe was like a grandfather to me. My mother, Lesley Brown, always said that she trusted him from the first moment that she met him.
"Patrick died when I was 10 years old so I did not know him well. We last met when we were guests on a TV programme together and he was proud of the children he had helped bring into the world.
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"His legacy will live on as there are now millions of people in the world who owe their existence to the work of the IVF pioneers.”
His son Andrew gave a moving tribute to his father at the unveiling of the Witney plaque, adding: “Patrick was first and foremost a doctor intensely concerned about the health of women, and did much work on cervical cancer, pelvic pain, and sterilisations as well as infertility.
"He worked very hard, doing a five-and-a-half-day week, and generally going into the hospital on Sunday morning as well to see how his patients were getting on.
“His exceptional contributions to medicine and science came through his work with Bob Edwards, each bringing unique skills to the collaboration.
"But I think much of his commitment came from his upbringing here in Witney, his parents’ strong sense of service, and his mother’s example in helping poorer people in need. So I’m very proud that the town has recognised him in this way.”
Joy is available to watch on Netflix now
