McNair was the local head of the Independent Labour Party in Barcelona.
McNair helped recruit soldiers during the Spanish Civil War, enlisting them to fight for the Partido Obero de Unificacion Marxista. George Orwell was one of the recruits enlisted by McNair.
McNair again met with Orwell for a drink. He told Eleana Domínguez Orwell was writer. McNair met the Eighth Doctor and Anji Kapoor in Barcelona and allowed the Doctor to take his car. After Orwell disappeared. McNair helped in the search for him.
Once Orwell was brought back to Barcelona, Anji asked McNair to see him out of Spain and into France. (PROSE: History 101)