I was at Forest Hill Comprehensive as it was known in 1959. The school was built for 1200 boys and there were 2000 when I went. The place was full and very unruly. There was constant fund raising for this swimming pool that one day we would all enjoy and by the time I left in 1964 the thing had still not been built. What I did like about the place was the library with it's geometric shape spanning north block and south block.
In Dacres Road opposite the school was this nutty woman who used to shout at the school during the day, "You persecutors!" she would scream and she could be heard in all the lessons. She obviously objected to the school being there in place of the beautiful villas of the Victorian era. One of our teachers, Mr Boon shouted at her to shut up from the classroom window, "Your just like Colonel Nasser!" she wheezed. Boon replied, "Madam, I am Colonel Nasser!"
I took my tennis racket to every summer games lesson to enjoy a game on the hardcourts. I never got one game while at the school. I ended up joining the Forest Hill Lawn Tennis and Bowling Club to play the sport I loved. There were just too many kids and not enough space. I hated the place and rejoiced the day I left.