Blue Peter lifeboats


Blue Peter lifeboats are a series of lifeboats, provided to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, which were funded by some of the annual appeals held by the BBC TV children's programme Blue Peter.
An appeal in 1966 provided four inshore lifeboats, which went on service in 1967 and 1968.
Three further appeals resulted in and lifeboats being placed at six stations, a All-weather lifeboat being placed at, and one Inshore lifeboat being retained in the relief fleet; the latter being transferred to various stations as operations and maintenance required.
A total of 28 lifeboats have been funded by the various Blue Peter appeals, and have served at the following stations; the name of the lifeboat remaining with the station, even when the lifeboat was replaced.Blue Peter I – Blue Peter II – Blue Peter III – Blue Peter IV – Blue Peter V – Blue Peter VI – Blue Peter VII –
As of May 2025, just two Blue Peter lifeboats remain on service:
  • Inshore lifeboat Blue Peter V at
  • All-weather lifeboat 14-03 Blue Peter VII at.

History

One of the annual features of the BBC TV children's programme Blue Peter was a fundraising appeal. Rather than asking for money, programme editor Biddy Baxter decided to make it possible for even the poorest children to be able to contribute. The first appeal was held in 1962, when viewers were asked to collect postage stamps, to raise money for homes for the homeless.

Station honours

The following are awards made to Blue Peter lifeboat crew.