West Yorkshire Playhouse

Maxine Peake’s critically acclaimed play celebrates the life of unsung sporting legend Beryl Burton – the greatest woman on two wheels.

When Beryl Charnock, met keen cyclist Charlie Burton she was smitten, not only with Charlie but by the thrill and freedom found on her bike.

She would out-work the men in the rhubarb fields, she could out-class the cyclists on the road, and still find time to over-knit young Denise a cycling jumper, it wasn’t meant to come down to her knees!

With her husband, daughter and cycling club at her side, she became five times world pursuit champion, 13 times national pursuit champion, twice road-racing world champion and still made it home in time for dinner.

Beryl Burton MBE, OBE, wife and mother, cycled her way into the record books becoming world and British record-holder and, with a determination to be the best, she always cycled home a hero.