Robin McNair

Post-war After the war McNair entered the civil aviation industry joining British European Airways (BEA) which merged with BOAC to form British Airways (BA) in 1974. He played an important role towards re-establishing post-war diplomatic and commercial links between Britain and Federal Germany; and in facilitating commercial diplomatic channels of communication with countries emerging from the political upheavals of the war. Biblical scholar Dom Bernard Orchard (OSB) said of McNair: “I know of no-one in my whole acquaintance more deserving of being honoured by his country for his integrity and citizenship.”

Personal life McNair was born in Rio de Janeiro, his forebears having moved in the 1840s to Brazil from Glasgow, where they were prominent in civic and commercial life. He was educated at Douai School, Berkshire. A devoutly religious man, during his war years he would always insist that Mass be held for dead crew members any time an enemy plane had been brought down. In post-war years he helped to organise displaced persons camps in Western Europe. After his retirement in 1979 McNair became involved with many church, charitable and ex-Service organisations. He also maintained close contact with his old school and was elected President of the Douai Society (1991–93).

Family In 1940 Robin McNair married Estelle Townsend, great niece of Surgeon-General Sir Edmond Townsend; they had seven children, including author and lawyer Duncan McNair. (McNair Close, Selsey and McNair Court, Hove are also named in his honour.)