The beginning of July saw a trip down to Leicester to catch up with Ayo Akinwolere on The Time Capsule Tour.
Ayo at the time known as Andy presented Blue Peter from June 2006 until June 2011. Before joining the show he was working as a runner for CBBC. One evening whilst having drinks with friends in the BBC club, one of the Blue Peter production team heard him talking. She liked what she was hearing and suggested to Richard Marson the Blue Peter Editor at the time that Andy should audition. On 26th June 2006 Andy became Blue Peter presenter 32. His first challenges were abseiling and a bungee jump from a helicopter and this was the start of 5 years of fun and adventures.
During his final challenge before leaving Blue Peter Ayo set a new world record for the deepest location for an open water swim. He swam for more than five miles across the Palau Trench in the Pacific Ocean, the first person to ever do so.
Since leaving Blue Peter he has presenter Fort Boyard - Ultimate Challenge and taken part in Dancing on Ice, Celebrity Master Chef and The Great British Bake off. In 2012 he went to Jamacia to make a documentary for the BBC about Husain Bolt. Since 2014 he has presented Inside Out for the BBC in The Midlands Area.
In 2015 he created the swim challenge. a project to encourage people of colour to lean to swim.
Monday 16th October marked Blue Peter's 59th Birthday.
The previous Thursday was chosen as the day Blue Peter would celebrate, and in fact it also marked the start of a year of celebrations of the programmes 60th year. I am so pleased the BBC are going to celebrate this wonderful television milestone.
The 59th Birthday show included the unveiling of the Gold Badge Walkway at Media City UK. A pathway celebrating some of the famous faces that have been awarded a Gold Blue Peter Badge over the years (more on this soon). The show also featured a birthday quiz including a round that recreated a make first made by John Noakes in the 1960's
A brilliant film featured current presenter Lindsey Russell taking part in a training exercise with The RNLI at Beaumaris the former home of The Blue Peter 2 lifeboat.
The show ended with a teaser of Radzi's Children in need challenge. Following in the footsteps of past presenters John Noakes, Janet Ellis, Simon Thomas and Andy Akinwolere. Radzi has been training with The RAF Falcons and is going to attempt a free fall parachute jump.
Lots more is planned for the 60th year, including in February when 5000 editions of Blue Peter will have been aired, a special Diamond anniversary badge will be launched.
The 59th birthday also marks a year to go until the end of my Project 161018 challenge. If you would like to visit my fundraising page and sponsor me, it would be greatly appreciated
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.
