Yesterday we headed over to Salford to visit The Gold Badge Walkway at Media City Uk.
The walkway has been installed as part of Blue Peter's 60th Birthday celebrations and links the studios at Media City to the iconic Blue Peter Garden. It celebrates some of the many famous faces that have been awarded a Gold Blue Peter badge.
44 giant Gold badges have been set into the pathway and engraved with the names of the famous badge winners.
Amongst the well known names are those of former presenters Valerie Singleton, John Noakes and Peter Purves, along with Biddy Baxter who edited Blue Peter for 23 years and Percy Thrower the first Blue Peter Gardener.
Here is the full list of badge winners honoured on the walkway
Her Majestry The Queen
David Attenborough
Steve Backshall
Gary Barlow
Biddy Baxter
David Beckham
Mary Berry
Malorie Blackman
Quentin Blake
Usain Bolt
Michael Bond
Cressida Cowell
Roald Dahl
Tom Daley
Jessica Ennis-Hill
Tanni Grey-Thompson
Lewis Hamilton
Dani Harmer
Kelly Holmes
Antony Horowitz
Chris Hoy
Elton John
Jade Jones
John Lasseter
Chris Martin
Michael Morpurgo
John Noakes
Nick Park
Tim Peake
Peter Purves
Chris Riddle
Wayne Rooney
JK Rowling
Ellie Simmonds
Francesca Simon
Valerie Singleton
Steven Spielberg
Sarah Storey
Percy Thrower
Beth Tweddle
David Walliams
Bradley Wiggins
Jacqueline Wilson
Barbara Windsor
I wasn't due to catch my train back home from Edinburgh until 6.50 pm, so I had all afternoon to explore and watch some of the many street performers of the Edinburgh Fringe. I had also heard that Peter Purves and Valerie Singleton were due in the City that day as well as current presenter Lindsey Russell. I realised that The Edinburgh International Television Festival was due to start the following day. I put two and two together and presumed this must be the reason they were due in Edinburgh. So I headed over to the conference centre with the hope of maybe seeing them.
I timed it perfectly, I had been sat outside no longer than 10 minutes when legendary presenter Peter Purves appeared on his way back to his hotel. I introduced myself and Peter remembered me writing to him earlier in the year about Project 161018. We spoke for a few minutes and he signed my 50th Anniversary Book. I asked about Val, but unfortunately her train was not due into the city until 8.30pm. I would be well on my way home by them. It would have been wonderful to see both Peter and Val. I hope to catch up with her later in the project. I did however see Lindsey and she was pleased I had seen Peter.
Peter Purves joined the Blue Peter team in 1967 and prior to joining John and Val, he had played the part of Steven one of the companions to William Hartnel's Dr Who. Peter's first film for Blue Peter was all about teaching John and Val life saving skills. During Peter's time on the programmes, it was often asked why John Noakes did all the daring films and Peter never did anything brave. However this could not have been further from the truth. Peter filmed many exciting adventures including joining The White Helmets Motorcycle display team, Mountain climbing with Chris Bonnington, driving a car through the side of a furniture van with a stunt team and climbing The Forth Road Bridge.
Peter also looked after Petra the programmes first dog, until she died in 1977. He later said that announcing her death on the programme was one of the hardest things he had ever had to do.
After 10 years Peter thought it was time for a change and his final live Blue Peter was in March 1978. He loved his time on the programme but says he really stayed too long, but it was such a good job. Peter is extremely proud of his time on Blue Peter " One of televisions great programmes "
After leaving Blue Peter, he remained associated with Children's TV, presenting the sports programme Stopwatch and two series of Blue Peter Special Assignments. He also went on to present the long running motorcycle trials programme Kick Start and has been associated with the television presentation of the Dog Show Crufts for over 30 years. Peter can also be found regularly at science fiction and Dr Who conventions. In 2009 he released his autobiography - Here's one I wrote earlier.
Peter features in Blue Peter Books 5 - 15.
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.
