Bernard George Dale and Cicely Jackson met at Hull Art School before the outbreak of the Second World War.
During the war, Bernard served in the RAF as a gunnery and aircraft recognition instructor. He created a beautifully illustrated picture book depicting a ‘perfect leave’ with Cicely in July 1941, during which they enjoyed a romantic day by the sea.
The war is there in the background – with ironic references to the ‘wartime punctuality’ of the trains – but the focus of the story is on the lovely day being shared by two young people.
As Bernard records in his caption, the day began with a spell in an Anderson shelter while at home on leave in Hull. The city was a vital port and this photo shows the damage caused by one raid in May 1941.
But he and Cicely still managed to catch their train to enjoy a day together.
After a spot of shopping in Bridlington, the couple picked up some ‘wads’ – sandwiches – and lemonade for their lunch and boarded a bus to Thornwick Bay in Flamborough. The area is famous for its beautiful scenery and sea caves.
After enjoying a swim, the couple headed back to Bridlington to sit for a while watching the 'sprogs' - young cadets who were even younger than the then 20 year old Bernard.
Then it was time to head home and spend their last few hours together.
In August 1942, just over a year after their romantic day out at Thornwick Bay, Bernard and Cicely were married in Chester.
When the war ended, they moved to London, where Cicely finished her studies at the Royal College of Art. Bernard trained to be an art teacher and taught for ten years, before becoming a commercial artist. In their later years, the couple became antique restorers with a specialism in Chinese and Japanese art. Bernard died in 1998 and Cicely in 2017.
Their son Simon was born in 1952 and he has donated three of his father's illustrated picture books to IWM.
