After leaving Bede Grammar School, in 1962, George Brown studied at the University of Manchester for five years, getting his BA in English, History and Art in July, 1967. Around 1972, he gained his MA at Newcastle.

Before joining the South Shields Grammar-Technical School for Boys, in September, 1968, he had a number of temporary appointments - West View Junior School, Hartlepool (1 month), Chester-le-Street Grammar School (3 months) and Stockton Grammar School (3 months).

In 1974, he became a JP and, after leaving the school in the late 1970s, he taught at the King George School in South Shields following which he move to the Chuter Ede school. He was a musician, singing tenor in the school choir, and would occasionally play the organ for assemblies.