 After a free-fall with the RAF in 1973, Noakes held the record for the longest free-fall parachute jump by a British civilian for a time.His 1977 unassisted ascent of the high Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square in London has been voted the greatest moment in children's TV programming.Alongside his "Blue Peter" work, Noakes also presented the BBC's Christmas edition of "Disney Time" with his "Blue Peter" colleagues on December 27, 1971.