I have just read all this. I am much older than most of you: Elliot Bank 1965-72, Sydenham 1972-79. My sister and sister-in-law also went to Sydenham. I was in Austen (yellow). Eileen Davies, the Housemistress, died last summer. I also remember Mrs Zacherwich (she was very deaf, which is probably why some found her scary - she could not listen!). I still exchange Christmas cards with Miss Roberts (who did scare me at first, but was great).
My daughter is now in year 8 there. They are only 1400 girls (1750 in my day), and they do not have houses, but the year heads move up with them and know the girls in the way that housemistresses used to. She seems to do loads of out of school activities, I am always completing a permission slip for her to participate in something.
My brother and brother-in-law went to Forest Hill, and I hope my son will too. I know they still have houses, because I still see the coloured strips on their blazer pockets. Inevitably, by sheer force of numbers they crowd the pavements when they come out, but I only have to say "excuse me" and they part to let me through without a murmer.
I know Peter Walsh is a legend in his own lifetime: that is why we invited him to chair the inaugural meeting of the Forest Hill Society!