Charlie Burton, Beryl's husband and a hugely influential figure himself in the history of British women's cycling, died peacefully on Friday night at the age of 93.

Beryl Burton was one of the greatest ever cyclists, but always said that she would never have achieved her success without Charlie, who introduced her to cycling and travelled all over the world in support of the British women’s team.

Beryl was the first British woman to win a world cycling title and would ultimately win seven rainbow jerseys, 122 senior national titles and set more than 50 world and national records, including her incredible 12-hour ride of 277.25 miles in 1967 that also beat the men’s record.

Charlie, who combined several jobs with dedicating his life to every conceivable role in support of Beryl, was present at each of these races. 

At the Otley 12-hour when Beryl famously caught and passed all 99 men who started ahead of her, including men’s champion Mike McNamara, Charlie was cooking steaks on a primus stove by the roadside to pass to his wife as she pedalled by.

The stories of Charlie’s self-funded travel across the world in support of Beryl and the British team after women were finally permitted to ride in the World Championships from 1958 were extraordinary.

He made the 1,000-mile journey to Milan from Leeds on the back of Morley clubmate Dick Hudson’s scooter. They camped out at random destinations en route and Charlie arrived in Italy with a spare bike for Beryl strapped to his back.

For the 1963 World Championships, he drove to Belgium in the family’s three-wheeled car that had been presented by the Cycle Industries Association out of respect for Beryl winning the world pursuit and road race double three years earlier.

Charlie and their seven-year-old Denise slept in the three-wheeler during the World Championships. In Paris the following year, Charlie travelled alone and found a wooded area near the Parc des Princes to pitch his tent but, after being woken by a herd of pigs, was found in a sleeping bag in the doorway of the British team hotel. With space in the official British team entourage always strictly limited, he also camped out in a sleeping bag next to the hotel in Frankfurt in 1966 when Beryl won her fifth world pursuit title. Charlie had spent two years in Germany for the Royal Air Force and his expert mechanical support would extend far beyond Beryl to the entire British women’s team and indeed any other cyclist who ever required any help.

Charlie and Beryl had met in 1952 when they both worked in the same factory in the centre of Leeds for the tailors business Montague Burton.

Beryl then noticed Charlie’s racing bike and, after telling him that she would get one, he invited her out on a Sunday ride with the Morley club and loaned her the bike. Charlie literally pushed Beryl up the hills to begin with but that would soon change.

“In the first year, we were waiting for her,” said Charlie. “In the second year, she were riding with us. By the third, she were leaving us behind. Beryl became so fast in comparison to me that I backed off. I just said, ‘I’ll get you to the events and make sure your bike is OK and you race’.” 

Beryl and Charlie got married a month before Beryl’s 18th birthday in April 1955 at St John’s Church in Moortown. They took their wedding vows at midday, and Beryl raced in a 10-mile time trial the next day in Hull. Their wedding night was spent in a nearby youth hostel and, as was customary, in segregated male and female dormitories.

Beryl won her first national title in 1958 and, after being British Best All-Rounder every year between 1959 until 1983, she never stopped racing until her death aged 58 due to heart failure while out riding her bike in 1996.

Charlie, just as he did for more than 40 years, was still preparing all of Beryl’s bikes, transporting her to races and providing crucial moral support. 

“Without Charlie at hand I could rarely bring out my best – I feel as if half of me has been left behind,” Beryl once said.

She also dedicated her 1986 autobiography to her husband: “To Charlie, without whom none of this would have been possible. BB.”

Charlie was an accomplished club cyclist himself, winning local hill-climb events, and was a member of the Morley Cycling Club for more than 70 years. He continued cycling regularly until his mid eighties and lived in Knaresborough and Ripon following Beryl’s death.

Beryl and Charlie are survived by their daughter Denise Burton-Cole, their grandchildren Mark and Anna and their great grandchildren Alfie and Lyra. “He is now with the love of his life, my mum,” said Denise.

Jeremy Wilson is Chief Sports Reporter at The Telegraph. His latest book, Beryl: In Search of Britain’s Greatest Athlete, was the winner of the 2022 William Hill Sports Book of the Year award.