Pearly King who inspired Del Boy campaigns to keep Cockney tradition alive

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. 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. But he says he is now only one of around a dozen left carrying the torch. 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. 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.