When in his early twenties, Reilly joined his father's firm in the pharmaceutical business.
The company did very well, but was hit hard when Britain left the Gold standard system in the early 1930s.
He returned to England after the war ended, and became a full-time chess editor and writer.
[3] He was 'exceedingly chuffed' with a win against super-class U.S. Grandmaster Reuben Fine during the 6th Olympiad, Warsaw 1935.
He actually purchased control of the magazine in the early 1950s, when it was in financial straits, and turned it into a profitable business.