Pearly King who inspired Del Boy campaigns to keep Cockney tradition alive from gopi boy Watch Video

⏲ Duration: 3:36
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✓ Published: 25-Apr-2024

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One of the last remaining 'Pearly Kings' who was the inspiration behind Del Boy is fighting to keep the Cockney tradition alive - saying there are only around 12 left.<br/><br/>George Major, 86, who was crowned The Pearly King of Peckham more than 65 years ago, said there were once more than 400 like him.<br/><br/>But he says he is now only one of around a dozen left carrying the torch. <br/><br/>He still wears his original pearls with pride to welcome visitors six days a week at the world's only Cockney museum that he set up four years ago.<br/><br/>But he said the younger generation were shying away from the east end Victorian tradition - and it was now in grave danger of dying out for good.<br/><br/>And launching his new campaign to 'save the pearlies' he said it was vital more awareness of its history and meaning was passed down.<br/><br/>George grew up working on the market in the south-London suburb from the age of four and was such a major inspiration behind the classic sitcom Only Fools and Horses he was named “Del Boy the First”. <br/><br/>He recalls being followed at the time by the show's writer John Sullivan while he worked as a costermonger with 'Granddad Fred' and a 'lanky bloke' they called the 'plonker.'<br/><br/>The similarities don't end there - with multiple tales of his exploits being used on the show. <br/><br/>He famously once sold 'Cockney smog' - milk bottles filled with exhaust fumes - to American tourists - that's believed to be the inspiration behind the famous 'Peckham Spring' episode.<br/><br/>He was crowned the Pearly King of Peckham aged 20 - and has been collecting items ever since.<br/><br/>George now spends his days showing visitors around his museum near Epsom, Surrey, and taking his cheerful pearly way to groups, events and nursing homes - but said he was sad schools no longer invited him in for talks.<br/><br/>He said: “In 1930 there were around 400 genuine pearlies but now there are only about a dozen or so of us left.<br/><br/>“The museum helps to keep the Pearly tradition alive by teaching new generations about it.<br/><br/>\