Christmas in Sunderland: Remembering the must-have childhood toys on your Christmas list - the ones you did not get

We put that question to the 7,600 followers of Wearside Echoes - the Sunderland Echo’s specialist nostalgia group on Facebook. More than 100 of you replied, with a great variety of presents both large and small on your letters to Santa Claus.

As thoughts turn to Christmases of the past, there were plenty of things outstanding on your festive wish lists – toys, pets, and even more. Take a closer look and see which of these gifts were on your shopping list – and which ones you would still love to open on December 25!

The longed-for toys and gifts of your childhood

Little drummer boy? Kevin Martin wanted a drum kit and never got it at the time – but he’s got one now! Meanwhile, as the weather turns colder, Lee Mckinney asked for a Mr Freeze, Claire Stevens would have loved a Mr Slushy and Michael John Simpson, Kay Scott and Tara Warren all had Mr Frosty on their wishlist.

Wearside Echoes follower Karen Johnson mentioned a rocking horse and a doll’s house on her list, .Abiy Orr would have loved a train set while Stanton Longhorn, Anthony Houghton, Steven Wright, Alison Naylor and Jillian Moule all had their eyes on a Chopper bike. Remember them?

Dolls and action figures were all the rage during many of our childhoods, with Moira Manson desperate for a Tressy doll. Also popular were Barbies, Chatty Cathy and – of course – a Wendy House as the perfect place to play.

Elsewhere on the Christmas list; Julie Rate set her hopes on a potter’s wheel, Deborah Ian wanted a chemistry set and Margaret Smillie dreamt of having her own piano. Viv Wilson was after a rocking horse and Rita Howell would have loved cha cha shoes.

If anyone’s in the mood for a board game, how about Mouse Trap? Parents everywhere groaned at the prospect of setting THAT board up – but it was June Hunt Vincent’s Christmas wish.

Were you always outdoors as a child, enjoying the fresh air? There were plenty of gifts for that too! Graham Lay would have loved the type of bike from classic film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, while Lilian Loraine wanted ‘a blue toy yacht to sail in Roker Park’. Also getting out and about were Dale Addison and Lynne Johnson, who wanted skateboards, and Carol Hanratty Wood who had roller boots on her list.

A closer look at some of the other things on your list ...

Anthony E Gray might have had a well-known song in mind when he said ‘me two front teeth’ while Gary Dunmore would have been happy with ‘no sprouts’ on his Christmas dinner plate. Wouldn’t we all – pass us the pigs in blankets and roast potatoes, please.

Over in pets’ corner, Lynn Hartley wanted a dog and Gill Stephenson Button wanted a pony. They would have been hard work, but well worth it! And speaking of hard work, there were plenty of Christmas wishes for a baby brother or sister to join the family.

The comment we loved the most was from Brenda O'Neill who said: “I always just wanted Christmas. I would lie in bed counting down the days every night in an effort to go to sleep. Looking back, despite the fact that money was very tight in our house, I never really felt deprived. Mam always filled a pillow case with presents for us every Christmas morning.”