Blue Peter appeals from the last 36 years

Only Blue Peter could turn 225 tons of scrap metal into two centres for the elderly and eight hot dinner vans. The 1972 Treasure Hunt totaliser has nearly reached the top. Valerie Singleton, Lesley Judd and John Noakes look delighted; Peter Purves, for some reason, less so after someone stuck his Blue Peter badge through his right nipple Photograph: BBC

Ever wondered exactly what a hot dinner van looks like? Wonder no more. These petrol-powered purveyors of meals on wheels were paid for by the 1972 Treasure Hunt appeal. We’re not picking on you Peter but … nice heels, baby! Photograph: BBC

It’s 1973, and the team were appealing for viewers to send in used stamps to help tackle the drought and famine affecting Ethiopia. Hence the giant postbox totaliser. Purves, meanwhile, had discovered flower power, and Judd had begun to insist on wearing shades indoors Photograph: BBC

It was the postcode that every child under a certain age knew like the back of their little young hand. 'London W12 8QT.' With a cute little puppy like this one, the Guide Dogs for the Blind appeal simply could not fail Photograph: BBC

Blue Peter and its viewers have done a huge amount to help the RNLI over the years. Here’s one Purves, Judd and Noakes made earlier. Quite ingenious Photograph: BBC

'We're going to keep singing until we hit the target!' Peter Duncan on guitar, Simon Groom on drums and Janet Ellis on vibes at a bring and buy sale in London's Covent Garden for the Weather Beater Appeal, in aid of 21 countries hit by droughts and floods in 1983 Photograph: BBC

Peter Duncan, pictured shortly after being told that he had been bumped from the Great Yarmouth panto by Mr Bronson from Grange Hill. It's 1986 and Duncan is up the BT Tower for the Lend an Ear appeal, in which children were urged to collect keys, coins and scrap metal for hearing aids Photograph: BBC

Note for younger readers - very long paper chains used to be quite exciting, you know. Simon Groom, Peter Duncan and Janet Ellis during the Lend an Ear appeal, 1986 Photograph: BBC

Well, we did say they do a lot of work for lifeboats. It's the late 1980s, and it's Mark Curry, who some of you may also remember from the Saturday Morning Picture Show Photograph: BBC

Hmm, that's a familiar looking face in the middle in this 1991 picture. Oh yes - it's Bonnie the dog! And a youthful John Leslie, Yvette Fielding (on the left) and Diane-Louise Jordan. Fielding is a spectral figure on Living show Most Haunted these days, Jordan turns up on BBC1's Countryfile … whatever happened to Leslie? Photograph: BBC

Anyone over the age of 25 will suddenly have no idea who these people are. That's because it's 1996 and the Bring and Buy totaliser for that year's appeal for mobile leprosy treatment units. Pictured are (checks notes) presenters Tim Vincent, Katy Hill, Stuart Miles and Romana Dannunzio Photograph: BBC

Got: aluminium cans. Want: schools in Mozambique. And didn’t they do well? 1998's appeal collected 500 tons of aluminium, enough to build three new schools. Pictured are presenters Konnie Huq, Stuart Miles and Katy Hill Photograph: BBC

It's 2001, and an appeal with Help the Aged to buy a fleet of gleaming new mobility vehicles. Konnie Huq, Liz Barker, Matt Baker and Simon Thomas are pictured with Meg the border collie, who seconds later hit the accelerator pedal and caused a terrible accident Photograph: BBC

High five! The 2002 Water Works Appeal with Wateraid helped give 78,000 people a fresh water supply in Tanzania and Uganda. Look closely at the set and you’ll see someone has redesigned the Blue Peter logo as a series of blobs that makes the 2012 Olympics logo look sensible. Idiots Photograph: BBC

You can't beat a bring and buy sale, which is where the 2003 Get Together appeal went to raise money for after-school clubs through Mencap Photograph: BBC

These are all the entries for the 'Name the cat' competition that the Blue Peter production team ignored in the 'Socksgate' controversy. No of course it isn’t - it’s the 2004 appeal for old clothes to sell in Red Cross shops to raise money for a family-searching service in third world countries ravaged by war. Pictured are Konnie Huq, Simon Thomas, Matt Baker and Liz Barker Photograph: BBC

Sometimes three presenters just isn't enough. Konnie Huq, Zoe Salmon, Gethin Jones, Liz Barker and Matt Baker launch the Treasure Trail appeal for Childline. It funded 1442,212 extra calls, only three of which began: 'How comes it now needs five people to present a programme which once only required three?' Photograph: BBC

Rugby World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson joins Gethin Jones and Matt Baker for the 2005 Treasure Trail appeal. Seconds later Wilko, encouraged by Jones, hoofed the bucket over BBC Television Centre and broke a bone in his foot, keeping him out of the game for another 12 months Photograph: BBC

What they wanted was a Blue Peter appeal that rhymed, and with 2008’s Mission Nutrition - they got it! Pictured are presenters Helen Skelton, Andy Akinwolere and Joel Defries who each had 24 hours this week to organise a bring and buy sale in Whiteley’s shopping mall in London. Visit www.missionnutrition.org.uk for more details Photograph: BBC