Here’s a round-up of some of the quirky events which were making the news.
So take a look through for a reminder of a piano-smashing competition, a summer search for a Santa and why Morris dancing was big on Wearside.
1. Washington Carnival
Washington Carnival featured a pram race in 1987 and it lasted for more than two miles. Here's one of the teams which was raising money for charity as it went.
Remember this? Email [email protected]. Photo: HM
2. Organ transplant
It was quite a tricky operation to get this musical masterpiece put into place. But in 1987, this 80-year-old pipe organ was moved into the chapel at the Sunderland Royal Infirmary.
Local enthusiasts restored the organ to its former glory and hospital chaplain father Peter Webb said: "It certainly means services at the Royal are enhanced in a very special way." Photo: SE
3. Church High School sports day
The sack race, egg and spoon race, obstacle race and the 100 metres dash. They were all part of the fun of the Church High School sports day in Sunderland in 1987.
Remember the occasion? Email [email protected] and share the memories. Photo: SE
4. Thornhill Thrifter
Thornhill School in Sunderland had the technological wizardry to compete with the best in the country in the 1980s. Here are the students who took part in the Shell-Motor Mileage Marathon.
They had go as far as they could down a track in Silverstone and hopefully beat the opposition for the best mileage per gallon of petrol. Thornhill's vehicle was called the Thornhill Thrifter and students were hoping it would go to 4,000 miles per gallon. Photo: SE