George was the last Burton Corporation Pumping Station chief engineer and was also well known in the steam preservation world. He began work at Claymills in the early 1940's as an apprentice fitter and progressed up the ranks. Following the closure of the pumping station he worked at the 1960s sewage treatment works. In 1974, he was transferred from the Burton Borough Council to the newly formed Severn Trent Water Authority where he continued until his retirement.