Nigel was born on Sunday, 10 June 1923 - Glenferrie, Victoria, the fourth and youngest son of James Bills and Ivy Vevean Eleanor Chinner, his wife of Rose Park, Adelaide, South Australia. Nigel moved to Hobart sometime before 1946. Nigel married Susan Thompson on Saturday, 5 January 1946 at St Stephen’s Church, Lower Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia.

Nigel was a former member of the RAAF, equerry to Sir Douglas Bader during his Shell Company Tasmanian visit, ADC to Sir Edric Bastyan, Governor of Tasmania and to Lord Rowallan (also Governor of Tasmania). Nigel was a Principal of Adult Education.