And here are just some of the recollections you shared with us on social media – from walking to school in the deep snow to taking a driving test and even doing the paper round!
Thanks to you too for sharing your own memories. Take a look at what you had to say and why not enjoy some more dramatic snow scenes from 1963.
1. Halted in its tracks
The end of the line for this train stuck near Sunderland. Jean Barnes certainly remembered 1963. She told us: "I was 14 and we still had to wear ankle socks to school." Photo: se
2. Hard at work at Roker Park
Huge fires were blazing on the Roker Park pitch in a bid to get the surface playable. Meanwhile, the people of Sunderland got on with daily life. Jean Lewis remembered: "Had to walk from Marley Potts to Hepworths in Pallion for work." Photo: se
3. A tall order to get to your destination
A road sign for Ryhope is only just visible above the snow drifts. Bill Blyth recalled: "How could I forget that winter. In February I sat my driving test and I recall driving up the Cedars with piles of snow heaped up at the side of the road doing my best not to skid into the parked cars. The emergency stop was something of a non event because of the snow and ice. Somehow I passed!" Photo: se
4. npse-09-02-21-retro63memories-NEPupload
Freeing up cars on the Ryhope to Seaham road. Lynn Frater said: "That was snow. I was 8 at the time. We don’t realise how lucky we are today." Photo: se