George Hollis was born on 11 June 1904 in Durban, the son of John George Hollis, a building contractor, and Ethel, née Shirley a printer's daughter. He was educated at Durban High School and Natal University, then came to Guy's Hospital Medical School to study dentistry, qualifying LDSRCS in 1927, and stayed on at Guy's to study medicine, passing the conjoint examination in 1929. After junior appointments at Guy's he became resident medical officer at Queen Mary's Hospital for the East End, Stratford, and St Bartholomew's Hospital, Rochester. During the second world war he served with the second battalion the Surrey Regiment. On returning to practice in Durban he became a city councillor, chairman of the Health and Housing Committee, and chairman and steward of the Clairwood Turf Club. He married Miss Swayne in 1938, and had two sons and one daughter, none of whom followed him into medicine. He died in 1991.