MANY a York family made a million out of wartime austerity, the Diary can reveal.

We featured the Millionaire board game, made by the William Sessions Ebor Press printing works, in the Diary last week. Now we have more details about the game's origins.

William K Sessions is the son of William H Sessions, who was in charge at the firm when war broke out in 1939. WK, aka Bill, wrote to us to say that his father realised from his experience of the 1914-18 conflict that some regular printing orders would stop, and staff would be called up.

He asked his executives to brain-storm some likely wartime needs which could be produced on their machinery with the reduced staff.

"Between us we dreamed up and instigated such as i) gas-mask cases - Rexene covered to resist the elements; ii) cardboard light shades to prevent gleaming lights in the blackout; iii) my father personally instigated a series of very successful rations recording card-index schemes for grocers and many other trades which sold nationwide through the long dark years to 1945."

Then another line of thought developed: what about games that families and evacuees could play in black-out conditions, in place of curtailed peace-time entertainments?

Sessions' advertising manager Philip Dobson promptly dreamed up Millionaire. "All the components were made by Ebor Press staff, including many hours of 'table work'," recalled Mr Sessions.

"Making up games ahead of future regular orders was useful 'fill-up' work between rush jobs, say for printing many new government regulations."

When he returned to York from evacuation duties in 1946, he found Millionaire was still selling well.

ANNE Firth, of Dunnington, York, remembers the game with affection. "I'm afraid you have it a bit wrong," she tells the Diary. "The game is for seven, not eight, players, and the only way more people can play is to fiddle the rules by adding 'extras'."

She still has her original copy of the game and thinks there are two others in the possession of members of her family.

"I consider myself to be a millionaire expert, having spent hours (all the school holidays) playing it from about 1943 onwards with my friend Joan, who was an evacuee at her aunt's house in New Earswick during the war.

"The game was treasured like gold (as mine is) and playing it was granted willingly but with many conditions attached."

It kept two young girls happily occupied during the war years.

"After my friend was reunited with her parents, Millionaire disappeared, leaving a gap in my life," Mrs Firth said.

"Fortunately my lovely mum managed to get hold of three copies and one came to me for my birthday.

"I guard it very closely. Children are only allowed to play it if I am around!"

As for the value of her treasured game, she says: "I don't know how much the other people paid for theirs, but mine is priceless."

More details about Sessions' brief period producing indoor games to follow.

Updated: 08:50 Wednesday, March 29, 2006