Blue Peter and Guide Dogs

Blue Peter first became involved with The Guide Dogs for the blind association in 1964. The target for that years Christmas appeal was for 3 tons of silver paper and foil, enough to buy one guide dog. The result was 7 and half tons of silver paper and foil, enough to by two guide dogs (Honey and Cindy) with some money left over to help maintain a third dog.

Blue Peter's presenters at the time Christopher Trace and Valerie Singleton became Puppy walkers for one of the dogs, and so Honey's training was shown over the following months on the programme. After a year with Chris and Val, Honey went on to her advanced training on 6th February 1966 and for the next four months Honey was taught everything she needed to be an excellent guide dog. In the final month of training, Honey was introduced to her new owner. The owner and dog must learn to trust each other. This can be difficult, but gradually the pair began to work together. It was a proud day for Blue Peter when Honey led her owner through the gates of the training centre.

Honey Blue Peter's first Guide Dog

 In 1974 The 3B's appeal was launched to once again raise funds for Guide Dogs. 3B's stood for buttons, buckles and badges. The target two million envelopes of the 3B's to buy one guide dog, and a block of kennels for a new guide dog training centre. The result was six million envelops of the 3B's, enough for 11 guide dogs, a kennel block and extensions to several other training centres. Also an automatic drinking system for one centre and an incubator for another. Again one of the puppies was chosen to be puppy walked on the programmes, this time it was Peter Purves with Cindy.

In 1978 Simon Groom joined the presenting team, and with him came a new Blue Peter Pet, Goldie the Golden Retriever. Goldie had two litters of puppies during her time of the show. Goldie's first litter were born on 16th March 1981. The puppies were named by the viewers of the programme, Sandy, Buster, Henry, Prince and Lady. Lady went to live with Simon's parents on their farm in Dethick. The other 4 puppies were donated to Guide Dogs for the blind. Blue Peter again decided to follow the progress of one of the puppies, so Presenter Peter Duncan became puppy walker for Prince.

Simon Groom with Goldie.
Goldie gave birth to two litters of Guide Dog puppies.

Goldie's second litter were born on 3rd February 1986. This time she had 8 puppies, again all named by Blue Peter's audience, 66,368 people sent in name suggestions and the most popular were given to the puppies. Halley, Bonzo, Honey, Fergie, Snowy, Amber, Bonnie and Bruno. This time it was decided to keep Bonnie as the new Blue Peter pet, the other 7 went on to be trained as guide dogs.

On 16th January 1991, Bonnie gave birth to a litter of puppies, Major, Margot, Biddy, Lily, Teddy, and Honey. This time all the pups went to be trained as guide dogs. Honey (also the name of the programmes first guide dog) was chosen as the puppy who's progress would be followed on the programme and presenter John Leslie became her puppy walker.

Lindsey and Iggy go Christmas Shopping, during Puppy walking training.

Since then Blue Peter has followed the progress of 2 other puppies. In 2006 Magic was puppy walked with Andy Akinwolere. Sadly Magic had epilepsy and was not able to complete her training, so was re homed. The most recent Blue Peter guide dog is Iggy. Iggy joined the programme in June 2014, and her progress was followed by current presenter Lindsey Russell. In February 2016 Iggy was introduced to her new owner Callum and is making a huge difference to the young mans life.

Barney Harwood and Lindsey Russell

The next blog post I was due to write was going to be about Blue Peter and its long standing association with Guide Dogs. However on Thursday I took a trip over to Media City UK in Salford to take some photographs. I had some lunch and was heading back to catch the tram back into Manchester, when I spotted two familiar figures. It was Barney Harwood and Lindsey Russell members of the current Blue Peter presenting team. Barney remembered me from our meeting in the Summer. I had previously met Barney at the launch day for The Grand Theatre Blackpool's Christmas Pantomime. On that occasion Barney recognised me from an Instagram post, and knew that I had all the Blue Peter books. I couldn't quite believe that at the time, and was thrilled he knew who I was.

I had also grabbed a cheeky selfie with Lindsey in the past. Back in December I was at Media City for the recording of a Pop Quiz special. The Blue Peter Christmas special went out live the same day. I spotted Lindsey walking towards me, wearing reindeer antlers.

Barney Harwood joined the Blue Peter team on 17th January 2011, and he is the 35th Blue Peter presenter. Prior to joining Blue Peter Barney had worked on several other CBBC shows, including :-

Prank Patrol, Basil's Swap Shop, Totally Dr Who and Smile, 

In 2007 Barney won a BAFTA for Best Children's Presenter for his work on Smile.

Barney is also a regular on the Pantomime circuit, playing Aladdin and Peter Pan, amongst others.

Some of Barney's Blue Peter highlights so far have included performing a loop with The Blades at Bournemouth airshow, cycling with the British cycling team and taken part in a survival adventure.

Me and Barney with my Border Terrier Loch, Stanley Park Blackpool
August 2016.

Lindsey Russell is the 36th Blue Peter Presenter. She is the first presenter to be chosen by the programmes viewers.

In the summer of 2013 CBBC launched a show called Blue Peter - You decide!. Over 20,000 hopefuls applied,and 10 were shortlisted to take part in the final competition. The judges on the show were Eamonn Holmes, Myleene Klass and Ceallach Spellman. Over 5 weeks the contestants took part in various Blue Peter style challenges. On 25th July 2013, it was announced that Lindsey had won the public viewer vote. Lindsey's first studio show was on 5th September 2013.

Some of Lindsey's Blue Peter Highlights so far have included running the London Marathon, wing walking and helping to train Guide Dog puppy Iggy.
In 2016 Lindsey attempted to cross The Irish sea in a giant Zorb (21 miles from Northern Ireland to Scotland) in aid of Sport relief. Lindsey did fantastically well after months of training, but sadly had to abandon the attempt part way through due to bad weather.
Lindsey is also the host of another CBBC Show Taking the next step.

Me and Lindsey, Media City UK
December 2016.

Blue Peter and the R.N.L.I

The tradition of the Blue Peter appeal began in 1962. The first appeal to support the R.N.L.I was in 1966. Viewers were asked to send in old paperback books. A target of 60,000 books was set to buy one inshore lifeboat. The result was 240,000 books, which allowed four inshore lifeboats to be bought.

Lifeboat Appeal Totaliser from 1966

The boats were stationed at the following locations :-

Blue Peter 1 - at Littlehampton
Blue Peter 2 - at Beaumaris on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales
Blue Peter 3 - at North Berwick in Scotland
Blue Peter 4 -  at St Agnes in Cornwall

In the mid 1970's Blue Peter viewers helped to fund the replacement of all four boats.

In 1984 it was decided to help the R.N.L.I again. It had been known for a while that the four boats were wearing out. The boats must be in excellent condition to meet the stringent tests of the R.N.L.I.
However at this time all the heart breaking footage of the tragic famine in Ethiopia was being shown on the news every night. Thousands of Blue Peter viewers wrote into the programme asking can't we do something to help. So 1984 saw the double life saver appeal. The target 800,000 envelopes of buttons and postcards, to replace the four lifeboats and 800,000 envelopes of  used stamps to provide long term aid for Ethiopia including water tanks, a truck and cattle feed, so that children could have fresh milk to drink. Both targets were smashed, allowing 6 lifeboats to be bought, now locating one in Northern Ireland, along with a relief boat to take over when regular boats are being serviced. Extra equipment for Ethiopia included a well digging scheme, tools, seeds and cooking utensils.

In 1993 The pieces of eight appeal, collected enough broken jewellery, watches and postcards, to once again replace all six lifeboats and also provide an additional ocean going lifeboat.

This video shows an R.N.L.I crew putting Blue Peter 1 through its paces in 2010.

2006 saw the 50th anniversary of the relationship between Blue Peter and the R.N.L.I.

Thanks to four appeals Blue Peter viewers have funded 25 lifeboats, which at that time had been lunched more than 4,600 times and helped lifeboat crews save more that 1,000 lives.

Next time we shall look at the relationship between Blue Peter and Guide Dogs.

40 Blue Peter Books.

Blue Peter books 1 -40.

I am the proud owner of a full set of Blue Peter books (Annuals) although they were not officially called annuals until 2004.

The first Blue Peter book was published by Lutterworth, in time for Christmas 1964, and had a price tag of nine shillings and six pence. It was the book that 5 million young viewers had been waiting for, and was a sell out.

A new Blue Peter book, published by BBC followed every year until 1985. Each book was packed with highlights of the previous years adventures, makes and Blue Peter traditions.

In 1986 BBC enterprises withdrew from its 20 year partnership, and so no book was published that year.

In 1987 book 23 was published by Macmillan books. Books 24 (1988) and 25 (1989) were published by Ringpress. A further gap year followed in 1990. Books 26 (1991) and 27 (1992) were published by World books.

A longer gap followed between 1993 and 1997. Then for the programmes 40th Anniversary the book returned, books 28 to 31 were published by Egmont World.

BBC Worldwide took over for books 32 and 33 (2002 and 2003) but in 2004 BBC Worldwide pulled out once again.

It was getting late in the year to find a replacement, however the then Editor of Blue Peter Richard Marson spotted a range of Annuals produced by a company called Pedigree. He arranged a meeting, they turned out to be annual specialists and more than happy to take on the title. So Book 34 or the 2005 Annual was published in time for Christmas 2004. The Pedigree published books, now state that they are Annuals on the cover. However in a nod to collectors like myself the spine still says book.

Book 40 (2011 Annual)

Pedigree increased the content of each annual and produced a much glossier product, and as a result sales increased. Pedigree published the Blue Peter annual for 7 years, with book 40 (2011 Annual) being the last one published to date.

Book 16

I started my personal collection back in 1979, with book 16, and the tradition started of getting the Blue Peter Book each year for Christmas or my Birthday, which is also in December. I then started looking for back issues in second hand bookshops. A family holiday highlight was going to the second hand bookshop on Padstow harbour in Cornwall, looking for old Blue Peter books.

With books 1 & 2 Christmas 2011

Books 1 and 2 were really hard to find,but as a total surprise, for Christmas 2011 my Brother found copies of these on Ebay and bought them for me. My collection was complete.

However I am hoping that the BBC will decide to produce a special annual for the programmes 60th Anniversary in 2018.

We have badges.

The famous Blue Peter badge was first introduced on 17th June 1963. They are traditionally awarded to viewers of the programme for sending an interesting letter, picture or idea for the programme.

I won my own Blue Peter badge back in 1983 for sending a letter about my collection of Blue Peter books and autographs. My brother Wayne won his badge the same year for drawing a picture of the Blue Peter pets. Three years later he won a silver badge for making a model of the Blue Peter studio.

On separate occasions we both won runners up prizes and competition badges, in Blue Peter competitions. Myself in the Intel post competition, and my brother to design a boss for the damaged ceiling of York Minster.

There are presently seven types of Blue Peter badge.

Blue Badge - awarded for sending an interesting letter, picture, an idea for the programme or appearing on the programme.

Silver badge - awarded for sending in something different from your blue badge, so if you sent a letter the first time, then send a picture or model for your silver badge.

Green badge - awarded for sending in letters, pictures or makes about nature, conservation or the environment.

Orange badge - awarded to winners and runners up of Blue Peter competitions.

Purple badge - awarded for writing a review of a Blue Peter episode.

Sport badge - awarded for inspiring a friend to take part in a new sport.

Gold badge - awarded for outstanding achievements, bravery, courage and citizenship.

On special anniversary's of the programme a special limited edition badge is often produced.

25th, 45th, 50th,

For project 161018, I have, had made some limited edition badges, which I hope to give to the presenters I meet, as well as to family and friends.

My blue badge from 1983

My brothers silver badge from 1986

50th Anniversary badge 2008