He was born on March 21, 1864, to parents John James Allan, a Tailor and Draper, and his wife Hannah, at their home in Chapel Street, New Shildon.
When Francis Dinsdale relinquished the post of bandmaster of the New Shildon Saxhorn Band prior to his death in December 1884, George Allan inherited the role.
This opportunity arose in part through Thomas Bulch having already become bandmaster of a breakaway New Shildon Temperance Brass Band a few years earlier.
From 1896, until the year of his death, George Allan also offered his services, and was engaged, as an adjudicator for brass band contests around the North-East of England, and Southern Scotland.
In July 1902, Allan changed occupation to that of Wagon Painter, which he maintained until his retirement in Feb 1925 after which he moved from Shildon to nearby Leeholme.