Відео

Admiration for John Noakes and all the chaps involved. I salute all of you.

My uncle William Herbert Short also was a Royal Navy recruit here at HMS Ganges. He died in action on the Ardent 1940.

I would like to know the name of the camera man

And their often forgotten cameraman was also a pretty tough cookie.

Well, I'm very proud to say Robbie is a good pal to me and to our whole community 👍🏻

I remember watching this in 1967 as a 14/15 year old. John was the daredevil of the BP team. He also climbed Nelson's Column to join the cleaning team. No harness, no safety gear of any kind. What is rarely, if ever mentioned, is that a cameraman had to go up before him. He had nerves of steel and never showed any fear whatsoever - of course it would never happen today - H&S would wet their pants just thinking about it. R.I.P. John - you were poorly treated by the BBC once you had left - wouldn't even let you use the name Shep (had to use 'Skip) for your dog so you could make a bit of money.

There have been young Cadets who died falling from this training mast. Bless them.

Bloody mad they were 🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃

Noakes-YORKSHIRE 🫡💪

Dad...button boy 1939

Fearless superhuman. So grateful to grow up with Noakes in my childhood.

John Noakes was a true heroic daredevil👍

I have a friend who is trying to open Catalogue Muse but it just shows the loading circle and then disappears and it never opens up for him. What could be causing this?

My Paternal Gt Grandad, Willie Gregg, trained at Shotley in 1911 and would have climbed the mast regularly..... On 7 Oct 2023, I went to see the Mast, it's been restored by a Team who worked on the Mary Rose, it's been back up about 3 weeks. I also went to HMS Ganges Museum, at the Marina, an interesting afternoon if you like Naval history or are looking for Family Naval history there.

I'll bet Noaksy could have made that final climb no problem, he just gave way to the OG button boy cos he was a gentleman that way.

The mast has now been completely refurbished and replaced - great to see the return of such an iconic landmark and hats off to Wavensmere Homes for prioritising its restoration. It is a fitting monument to the 160,000 Boys who trained at HMS Ganges and served in the Royal Navy. There is a museum at Shotley Gate dedicated the history of the establishment - details can be found online.

I joined the mob in 85 at HMS RALEIGH but no way could I have climbed that mast. I don't like high places. In today's navy they would have them well harnessed up and rightly so. But I think they have went ott. It's not the same navy I joined.

I remember watching that. Noakes should have been given a bloody medal for all the things he did for Blue Peter.

Half Moon for me,1963

Health and safety would having a heart attack watching this!!

I was 12 then

John Noakes was incredibly brave, they don't make presenters like that any more, what a legend.👏👏👏

Great to see this again, thanks for posting it. 👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻

I was part of one of HMS Ganges' final intakes in February 1976. What I remember the most was the hundreds of IRANIAN sailors who were receiving their basic training while I was there. Imagine THAT today!

This was my inspiration to join the Royal Navy. I talked about it here: ua-cam.com/video/sKkiZPjrsbE/v-deo.html

Fantastic!

John Noakes is a LEGEND. The man was fearless . Not like todays numpties.👍

My late Father did that. Not sure I'd get half way!!

Good old John Noakes. One of the "Holy Trinity" of Blue Peter presenters (along with Val Singleton & Peter Purves). I remember this along with climbing Nelson's Column, going on & falling off the back of an Olympic toboggan & being the first civilian to jump freefall with the Red Devils from 5 miles high. He was part of my childhood: so sad to read he died of dementia.

Absolutely bonkers, my childhood hero!

I know this couldn`t be done today for safety reasons and, well why risk lives for something that served no purpose other then ceremonial, but man it was certainly impressive

You are fearless John and I have respect on the highest level for you 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

My dad was in that RM Band ❤️

There's no amount of money you can pay me to even attempt that. And now the mast stands half collapsed and rotten.

I would liked to have seen how Robert the button boy managed to stand on the button. Truly awe inspiring.

Gosh, Noakes's Nelson's Column climb was a mind-blower - but this, too? Unbelievable - and with no safety harness for either!

Magnificent display.

Noakes and that lad had balls of steel.

John Noakes .. Now there is an example of a real man .. Balls the size of a wrecking ball ..... Respect.

I hate heights I feel dizzy on a thick carpet so respect to all the people who did this.

Noakes was a gutsy bugger, I still vividly remember being a young lad watching the episode where he climbed Nelson's Column and thinking he was mad, seeing him do this just confirms it! What a bloke.

what a man! they just dont make them anymore!

When presenters and boys were proper men. Nothing like the Ant and Dicks of today.

We were not cadets,we were junior seaman.i was at Ganges in 71 eagle mess,then on to frobisher division we used to climb the mast for fun,though I never stood on the button I climbed up to touch it.

Didn't know John Noaks did this.

Lord these lads must have balls of steel total respect to them and of course John Noakes a hero to so many

How'd u do it??

My father passed away a month ago, this is v special to me!! Duncan Smith Drake division 1957 Basic training then flew to Singapore to meet HMS Mounts bay for 18 month tour of the Far East! BTW Noakesy was a legend, just like the old man!❤️

Been there, done that in 1975, got to top of Jacobs ladder but not quite to the button though...

Did Biddy Baxter hate John Noakes?