His mother, who came to be known as Jane, was born Florence Mabel Howe and was the only daughter of a Leicestershire JP.
The younger Nelson was educated at Oundle School and King's College, Cambridge, where he won an exhibition and took his degree in the Mechanical Sciences Tripos.
After two years of practical experience in France and Switzerland and the onset of war in 1939 he was appointed superintendent of English Electric's Preston works.
[2] George Nelson led the campaign to raise funds for UK's first business and management schools, London and Manchester, and was particularly proud of his appointment as the first chancellor of Aston University.
[1] He served on many public bodies including the civil service selection board and the Advisory Council on Technology.