Tributes to one of London’s last remaining Pearly Kings who was inspiration for Del Boy

George Major kept the cockney tradition alive for decades and he wore the same suit since he was 20 with 22,000 pearls as buttons

Tributes have been paid to one of London’s final Pearly Kings who was the real-life inspiration behind Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses. George Major, who was crowned The Pearly King of Peckham more than 65 years ago, has died aged 88.

He dedicated his life fighting to keep the cockney tradition alive and was one of the final dozen left carrying the torch. George grew up working on the market in the South East 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”.

He previously recalled 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.’ The similarities didn’t end there – with multiple tales of his exploits being used on the show.

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 where Del Boy bottles and sells ordinary tap water as natural mineral water from Grandad’s old allotment.

He was crowned the Pearly King of Peckham aged 20 and had been collecting items ever since. George said in a previous interview there were once more than 400 like him.

In his final years he still wore his original pearls with pride to welcome visitors six days a week at the world’s only Cockney museum that he set up six years ago. He died on August 1 surrounded by three generations of his family.

His family led the tributes and said in a statement: “George leaves behind a community richer for his kindness and a legacy that will never be forgotten. Once a Pearly, always a Pearly.”

George said in a previous interview he felt the younger generation were shying away from the east end Victorian tradition and feared it was now in grave danger of dying out for good. This prompted him to launch a campaign to ‘save the pearlies’ and he said it was vital more awareness of its history and meaning was passed down.

George spent his final years, showing visitors around his museum near Epsom, Surrey, and taking his cheerful pearly way to groups, events and nursing homes.

He said previously: “In 1930 there were around 400 genuine pearlies but now there are only about a dozen or so of us left. The museum helps to keep the Pearly tradition alive by teaching new generations about it.

“I was born a Pearly Prince which comes from my mum’s side. My grandfather was the Pearly King of Mile End but when I was a one we moved to Peckham. I had always wanted to carry on tradition and have been very concerned about this going back many years.

“We are losing our identity and it is incredibly sad how much the numbers have shrunk. It is my family background and I am determined people will not forget our tradition.

“That is why I had a dream – soon after being crowned Pearly King of Peckham aged 20 – of having a Cockney museum to documenting our history. That dream took more than years to become a reality but it was in my brain all that time.

“It’s important for people to learn about history – especially the younger generation – and to see how hard people, especially children, had it back in those days.”

Visitors to his award winning museum could take a walk back through time along the cobbled streets of London, starting in Poverty Street before reaching the flower ladies in market square. They could then pass the market traders, known as costermongers, before reaching a 19th century prison, all while listening to traditional cockney songs, such as the Lambeth Walk.

There was also a display of the ‘Pearly Crown Jewels’ with the collection of suits and other historic artefacts, some dating back more than 180 years, was the only known collection of its type.

George said all his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren all wear the pearls and have been born into it but many ‘originals’ are not passing it down. He added: “I worked on the market all my life from the age of four.

“The biggest reason the culture is dying out is all the cockneys have moved out. Only yesterday I was opening a pie and mash shop in Southend and it was full of them. Most have left the east end now. Every one of them brings a smile to them.

“They love what they are seeing and it brings a flood of memories to them. Some old people had tears at seeing a pearly again after all these years. I go and visit nursing homes and love to meet all the old folk. That is what is all about.

“It is vitally important we keep this museum alive for many reasons. I had children in there – they were over the moon and they loved it – they don’t realise how lucky they are. People can learn from it and use it to help other people – we are all about helping other people – and have supported all types of charities.”

George wore the same suit since he was 20 with 22,000 pearls as buttons – and had previously lamented the ‘fake culture’ that has crept into his heritage. He said: “There is no modern day pearly king, You get some on the street that are ‘self made but it is all about the originals.

“You are born into it. We do it because of our history not just dressing up. I am concerned that people are abusing the title – that’s terrible. I used to see the other Pearlies and be with them all the time but I am more of a loner now. They’ve all been dying off which is such a shame.”

He added: “My children were told ‘when George kicks the bucket so the cockneys will be dead.’ It is so sad to hear that. It is very important to keep that flag flying. Markets today are dead. You’ve not got the cheeky cockney chappies on them anymore. I worked all the markets my whole life and loved every minute of it. It made me who I am today.”

And while working on the markets, he encountered John Sullivan and is proud of the role he played in inspirations one of Britain’s best loved sitcom characters. He added: “John Sullivan, the writer of Only Fools and Horses used to go around the markets to get his ideas for Del Boy. I was known to everyone after the show as Del Boy the first.

“There was three of us working the stall – me, the plonker, and ‘Grandad Fred.’ He wasn’t my real granddad – he was an old costermonger but I called him that. One particular time the market was not doing well, I said to the plonker I want you to go around all the doorsteps in Peckham and get all the old milk bottles.

“I said go before the milkman wakes up and that night he went around them all. He got a garage load of them. When we opened the door they all fell onto us. I had an three-wheel van, a green reliant, and I told the plonker to put them in and fill them up with fumes.

“I had labels that I stuck on and went around Oxford Street and marked it up as real Cockney smog. We flogged them for a dollar a bottle and sold the lot – fantastic. That’s what inspired the Peckham Spring story on Only Fools and Horses.”

A funeral procession will take place on Monday, September 14, starting from 25 Worcester Road, SM2. The service will be held at 1.30pm at Sutton Cemetery on Alcorn Close, SM3.

His family also expressed their heartfelt thanks to all those who have offered support, love and memories during this time.

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