Lynda Green: "Dolls house which my dad made for me and my sister to share, loved it. Used to make dolls furniture from anything we could find ( match boxs etc) and dolls made from wooden dolly pegs which we clothed with remnants of fabric and wool. Had hours of fun doing this."placeholder image
Lynda Green: "Dolls house which my dad made for me and my sister to share, loved it. Used to make dolls furniture from anything we could find ( match boxs etc) and dolls made from wooden dolly pegs which we clothed with remnants of fabric and wool. Had hours of fun doing this." | Getty Images

The best presents you got when you were little: Sunderland people remember their childhood Christmas gifts

By Chris Cordner

Digital specialist in nostalgia

Published 24th Dec 2025, 10:00 GMT

The magic of Christmas is alive and kicking in Sunderland people - especially when we ask them to remember the favourite presents they got.

Thousands of people took a look when we asked them to ‘Name the best Christmas present you got when you were little’.

We posed the question on our Wearside Echoes Facebook page and lots of you cast your minds back to your younger days.

There were memories of record players from Palmers, dolls from Joplings and home made dolls houses.

Read on to find out what else the people of Sunderland loved.

Jane Swinhoe said: "Commodore 64. We were over the moon with it." The photo shows a WHSmith employee helping a costumer in the home computers section at a store, in 1984. (Photo by Butler/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

9. Jane's home computer

Jane Swinhoe said: "Commodore 64. We were over the moon with it." The photo shows a WHSmith employee helping a costumer in the home computers section at a store, in 1984. (Photo by Butler/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) | Getty Images

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Sheila Jacqueline Sly. Sheila got a Spirograph game for Christmas and said 'loved it!'

10. Spirograph for Sheila

Sheila Jacqueline Sly. Sheila got a Spirograph game for Christmas and said 'loved it!' | other 3rd party

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Robert Doughty loved his train set. These three young boys were transfixed by a model railway circuit, on display in a department store. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

11. Robert's train set

Robert Doughty loved his train set. These three young boys were transfixed by a model railway circuit, on display in a department store. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images) | Getty Images

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