The Flag

This flag is a white square on a blue surround. It is flown by a ship to indicate that it is about to leave port. It is also the letter P.

The Childrens TV Programme

A firm and established stable of generations of children in the UK Blue Peter started on the BBC in 1958. It was designed to be educational as well as entertaining, showing children how to make things, stories of historic chartors, exciting things that people do, as well as pets for the nation that was moving into flats could not keep for themselselves. It has a distictive Blue clipper as an symbol, the original drawn by Tony Hart.

The annual expeditions are a look at different countries around the world. When they were started very few children would have been to such places, now things are different and the presentation of the reports tells us more of places that the children might one day themselves visit as well as the genaral scenes of the country and its culture. Indeed Princess Anne¹ went along with Valerie Singleton on a safari to Kenya to look at the work of the World Wildlife Fund.

Every year you know when Christmas is approaching when all the children you know start asking you for a given scrap material or for something for their stall. The reason for this is that it is time for the annual Blue Peter appeal. These usually alternate between a domestic and international need. Either a country with nutrition, health or education needs, or close to home something for the hospitals, disabled or other research and care for other needs. The scraps are then recycled and the money goes to these cause, or a Bring and Buy sale ² raises money in local schools, halls or gardens. The result each year is that the target is meet and a new totaliser is normally installed.

The Presenters

Here are all 28 in the correct order of appearance.

Christopher Trace (1958-67), Leila Williams(1958-62), Anita West(1962),Valerie Singleton (1962-72), John Noakes(1965-78), Peter Purves (1967-78), Lesley Judd (1972-79), Simon Groom (1978-86), Chris Wenner (1978-80), Tina Heath ³(1979-80), Sarah Greene (1980-83), Peter Duncan (1980-84), Janet Ellis (1983-87), Michael Sundin (1984-85), Peter Duncan(returned 1985-86), Mark Curry (1986-89), Caron Keating (1986-90), Yvette Fielding (1987-92), Diane-Louise Jordan (1990-96), Anthea Turner (1992-94), Tim Vincent (193-97), Stuart Miles (1994-99), Katy Hill (1994-), Romana D'Annunzio (1996-98), Richard Bacon ⁴(1997-98), Konnie Huq (1998-), Simon Thomas(1999-), Matt Baker(1999-).

The Pets

The Dogs

Petra, her pup Patch, Shep, Goldie⁵, her pup Bonnie⁶, Mabel and Lucy.

The Cats

Jason, Jack and Jill, Willow, Kari and Oke

The tortoises

Fred(a), Maggie and Jim, George

The parrots

Joey, Barney