 Stuart Mustow was born on 26 November 1928 in Smethwick, West Midlands.Mustow spent his early career in local government, during which time he supported the development of the M5 and M6 motorways, and was county surveyor for the West Midlands from 1974 to 1986.During his time in office it was discovered that defective cement had been used in bridge beams at St Chad's Circus and eight other locations on the Birmingham Inner Ring Road, much of this had been built by the same contractor; as a consequence, in July 1978 Mustow recommended that the responsibility for maintenance of the road be taken from Birmingham City Council and given to West Midlands County Council.