Sentiment plays no part in ruthless spring cleaning.

But it is criminal to consign old photographs and newspaper to the re-cycling bins as valuable history is lost.

Minimalists who refuse to hoard should pass such items on to Memory Lane.

Items like a certificate given to school children on June 8 1946 is are real treasures.

This one comes to us courtesy of Brian Lambkin, signed by the King George R.I.

It reads “Today as we celebrate victory I send this message to you and all other boys and girls at school. For you have shared in the hardships and dangers of a total war and you have shared no less in the triumph of the Allied Nations.

“I know you will always be proud to belong to a country which was capable of such supreme effort; proud, too, of parents and elder brothers and sisters who by their courage, endurance and enterprise brought victory.

“May these qualities be yours as you grow up and join in the common effort to establish among the nations of the world unity and peace.”

What a wonderful souvenir, particularly as the reverse side lists important war dates.

We can see at a glance that Germany invaded Poland in September 1939.

In 1940 the armies moved forward to invade Denmark, Norway and the Low Countries.

In June of that year war was declared on Great Britain. France capitulated, and Germans occupied the Channel Islands.

It goes on to include the United States joining forces with Great Britain in December 1941 and together declared war on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbour.

Captures, defeats, and liberations are faithfully recorded, together with the first rocket bomb (V2) to fall on England in September 1944.

The end was near when on August 6 the first atmomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Russia declared war on Japan, and the second atom bomb devastated Nagasaki.

On August 14 the Emperor of Japan broadcast the unconditional surrender of his country.

Lest we forget.