This event is part of a series of Black History Month events at the Museum of Cambridge; find other events here.

The Honourable Lieutenant Colonel George Nelson was born in Jamaica in 1952 and moved to the UK in 1962 at the age of 10. At 15, following the tragic death of his mother in 1964, Nelson decided to join the army. His military career began in 1967 when he enlisted in the British Army’s boy service. He eventually served in various roles, including driver, radio operator, and clerk in the Royal Engineers. His military journey took him to places like West Germany, Northern Ireland, Gibraltar, Malta, and Cyprus, where he became one of the few black soldiers in many of these units.

In 1975, Nelson married his long-time sweetheart, with whom he had two children, and continued his distinguished military career, rising through the ranks. After 39 years of service, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2006. Reflecting on his time in the army, Nelson speaks proudly of his achievements and the camaraderie he experienced, particularly in overcoming racial barriers in a predominantly white military.

Join Dr Carol Brown-Leonardi for a private interview with Lieutenant Colonel Nelson to celebrate the legacies of Caribbean community in Cambridge.  

This is a companion event to our exhibition, ‘Legacies of Windrush in Cambridge’, which aims to shine a light on the lives and experiences of the Caribbean Windrush community and those who left an indelible mark on Cambridge and the UK.