When I moved here I cleared out several box files of random paperwork. One was labelled "Old Stuff to Keep". I got rid of lots of bits and put the rest into a smaller cardboard envelope folder and labelled it the same. Now I'm going through various folders and boxes having another clear out - although I need a new paper shredder before I can do all the old self-employment tax stuff from the smallholding.
Some of the odd "old stuff" I've kept include these certificates.
The other random certificates I still have include my Scouting Wood Badge for Leaders, a City and Guilds Library Assistant Certificate and one for Typing - earned at evening classes in 1976/7 - no idea why I did that - in theory I should be able to touch type!
Oddly, one I ought to have, but it's been lost sometime is for the 6 'O' levels in 1971 - the least enjoyable one I earned. And now no one even knows what an 'O' level is!
One day I'll clear these out too.
Coincidentally, when we were doing our paperwork sort out a few days ago, we found my school exam certificates. I was half tempted to keep them, but then thought what's the point....so husband burnt them, along with the rest of the personalised no longer needed paperwork.
ReplyDeleteI must get a paper shredder, then I can add stuff to the compost bin too much to burn on the woodburner
DeleteI have to admit, I keep all my old certificates, including my O and A levels - it was such a miracle I got any, I don't like to chuck them. My descendants can clear them out, just as I did Mum and Dad's. :-) xx
ReplyDeleteI really don't need to keep so much but..........
DeleteI've got my Scripture Exam certificates too - but not my GCE ones. I seem to remember they were not very impressive looking, compared to those we won in Sunday School!
ReplyDeleteThe Sunday School ones got handed out on Sunday School Anniversary - best clothes for that!
DeleteI have my secondary school yearly and term reports and O & A certificates but I really dont know why. The folder has a few bits and bobs tucked inside ( eg Invitation to a Garden Party at Buck Palace ) I think it's time to do a favour for step son and the clearance that he will have to do!
ReplyDeleteThe invitation sounds interesting - you could frame it!
DeleteIt took me many years to go through and get rid of my notes for University - SO much hard work went into those. I kept most of the essays I did, have since had a cull of those but some still remain as a reminder that my brain once functioned!
ReplyDeleteI think my Grammar School stuff got chucked the minute I left school!
DeleteHa, ha, I still have a box of old certificates (we did scripture exams, too) including one for swimming a width. What use are they? But I'm reluctant to just shred them. How interested will my daughter be in my school reports?
ReplyDeleteI had a report book for the whole time at Grammar School - thought it was with these certificates but might have been chucked in a move
DeleteI still have my certificates and my school reports and I even have two of my Mum's school reports and a certificate she got from (I think, without looking for it) the RNLI. With doing family history I have BMD certificates on my ancestors and Discharge papers on those in the armed services including a 2xGreat Grandfather who was in the Royal Horse Artillery. I would never get rid of them.
ReplyDeleteWow - you've kept your Mums things for a good time .
DeleteI also have the books my paternal Grandparents won at Sunday School ffor attendance etc and a book my Great-Grandfather had of a story published weekly which was made up into a book, it was called The Cottage Girl, also a local book called Idlethorp which mentions when my Great-Grandparents arrived in the village. They will all be passed on to my daughter, who has already read one of the books won at Sunday School, Daddy Long Legs, which I believe Annie came from.
DeleteI think I still have some of my certificates, and yes I'm old enough to know what an O level is. I have one O level, 7 CSEs, 1 ULCI, numerous retail certificates and then the later ones earned were a computer 'Driving Licence' ... who named it that I have no idea, but I needed it when we opened our company. And then with our change of lifestyle bi-annual Health and Hygiene safety certificates for selling our foods at farmers markets. Gosh I think I even have my junior school reports somewhere, but they mostly say 'talks too much', 'daydreams' and 'could do better' ... so we won't go into that.
ReplyDeleteI've had Food Hygiene certificates but they don't last for long so they have been chucked out.
DeleteMy school report always said "should join in more" - why I wondered then and now!
I keep far too much paperwork and now I'm in my sixties I've started to wonder if it would be best to get rid of most of it......that thing of wanting to not leave rubbish for loved ones to clear up! It can feel difficult because often it represents effort and successes ........proof of our achievements in life....
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
I have so many folders of self - employment stuff that I'm sure could go - need an electric shredder to speed it up
DeleteI still have my O and A level certificates, and my unimpressive bit of paper for an Honors Degree. Also the letter recommendation from my school to the University! They seem like important stuff since I was the first person in my extended family to get that far. But they're only bits of paper!
ReplyDeleteWell done on the degree - definitely worth keeping.
DeleteWhenever doing a sort, interesting things emerge and bring back many memories. My recent sort found certificates/diplomas, belonging to me, my 2 siblings, as well as, deceased mother and father. I told my brother and sister and they said I should keep everything, they want nothing. For now, everything went back to the file cabinet. When I have my bonfire to rid the property of brush & tree limbs that have fallen during the Wiinter, I have files that will burn quickly. My sort seems never ending. The brush pile/bonfire grows. My neighbors are adding to it. We'll roast sausages and make a fun day.
ReplyDeleteI can't burn things outside in my little garden - the Fire brigade would probably get called out!
DeleteMy Mom saved lots of papers and report cards from my elementary, high school and college days and now I have them all stored in the basement. Looking through does bring back many memories of those days so I hold on to them. I have the same type of boxes for each of my children and will have to pass these on to them one of these days.
ReplyDeleteI passed on the childrens thing to each of them when we moved away from the smallholding but I doubt they've kept them
ReplyDeleteI've kept bills of my mom's but I need to shred them. She's not on earth anymore. I have a paper shredder. I got it a few years ago as other one quit working good. I'm getting rid stuff lately. Have a good day
ReplyDeleteIn the summer, we rarely had the chance to go places. My mother didn't drive, and my father worked. But every summer, a church had a weeklong vacation Bible school. Your certificates reminded me of a contest they had. We were given a list of scriptures to memorize, and whoever memorized the most got a prize. I was/am competitive as well and I worked diligently to memorize the scriptures. It was a lengthy list, and I could not memorize them all, and that really had me anxious. But the day of the contest came and much to my surprise, I realized that virtually no child had memorized anything beyond "For God so loved the world, etc." I got up and nervously recited my verses, one after another. In the end, I won that contest, and the little necklace that I won was not nearly as precious as the praise that I got from the ladies running the program. I felt quite special!
ReplyDeleteHow I wish I still had things like that, Sue. We moved so often in my childhood that those sorts of certificates were lost or tossed. Like Debby, all the churches in the area took turns with Vacation Bible School; I was raised Catholic, and went to Parochial school, but my mom never balked at my VBS attendance. My joke has always been that I'm religiously multi-lingual. --Elise
ReplyDeleteWhat precious memories those would bring back.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I still have my report books, but where did I put my o levels, really interesting to read the reports as each teacher put remarks. It was a Catholic school some of them were nuns.
ReplyDeleteI actually think they are rather cool to keep. They are small and don't take up a lot of space. When Mum died and we cleared out her things, it was interesting to look through those old certificates and such and learn things we'd either forgotten or didn't know.
ReplyDelete