Beryl Burton Play

[Richard A Thackeray]

I heard the original version of this on Radio 4, when it was first broadcast, & if the stage production is anywhere near as good, it'll be well worth the ticket price (even to a Yorkshireman)


On a slight digression, one of our (running) club members, is Beryls nephew!!! (although, he & his wife have emigrated to Australia now)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27923596

 

[Roadrider48]

She was an unsung heroine of cycling. I once saw her ride and the size of her front chainring would have made Tony Martin wince.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Renown for 54 & 56 tooth 'rings


http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/529628

Look at the times, & how long she held them (up to her death - not sure how many have been broken since?)

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/beryl-burton-british-legend-62824

 

[TissoT]

All of her medals and trophy's jerseys etc are in a glass cabinet in the manchechester velo
Impressive lady ... when you read up about her she had some determination for cycling and winning

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Interesting how many times I've heard Beryl's name this week. There was a piece on Countryfile just this last Sunday, and my Dad tells me her husband Charlie was on the local (Yorkshire) BBC news last week, (they still live in the area - Wetherby - whereas I've defected to Derbyshire).
Beryl and her hubby Charlie were close friends of my Mum & Dad from when they used to work at Burton's (the tailors) in Leeds. I think Charlie worked there, not sure about Beryl. I know she later worked on a rhubarb farm. As I understand it she didn't cycle when she first met Charlie, a keen cyclist, but, once they got together she soon became hooked and overtook him in ability. Charlie stood back to become her trainer. My Dad was telling me, t'other day, of him and Mum riding from Leeds to Blackpool and back with Beryl and Charlie. I remember meeting them on a couple of occasions when I was a kid. She was a legend around Leeds, not to mention nationally. Strange to find today that many people have never heard of her.
A truly inspirational woman!

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Have you seen this thread in Cafe @Geoff Crowther? http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/ever-heard-of-beryl-burton.158533/

Thanks for that link Tiny.

 

[Ganymede]

I think Maxine Peake's plan to bring Beryl into the limelight is succeeding, helped by excellent timing so that the press are all looking for cycling angles in the TdF build-up. Hurrah!

 

[HLaB]

There was a good piece on the bbc at the weekend. IIRC I think in her first time trial she finished a good few minutes in front of the men, catching the best man on route (who was no slouch either).

Edit: it was a 12hour TT

In 1967, she set a new 12-hour time trial record of 277.25 miles[3] – a mark that surpassed the men’s record of the time by 0.73 miles and was not superseded by a man until 1969.[4] While setting the record she caught and passed Mike McNamara who was on his way to setting the men's record at 276.52 miles and winning that year's men's British Best All-Rounder. She is reputed to have given him a liquorice allsort as she passed him.[5] Apparently, McNamara ate the sweet.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

There was a feature on Maxine Peake, & her (almost) obsession with BB in the 'Yorkshire Post' yesterday

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/yorkshire-living/arts/theatre-and-tv/wheels-of-true-steel-1-6693497



This, plus the 'Women In Sport' debate, on the opening night;

http://www.wyp.org.uk/what's-on/2014/beryl/

 

[Glow worm]

Bump! The play is now being repeated on Radio 4 as I type, so should be on iPlayer in a bit.