Sign Up

What a Pearly King taught me about Cockney rhyming slang and East London history

NPR 1 min read 8 hours ago

In mother-of-pearl suits, the Pearly Kings used to canvass East London for charity. The most famous one, George Major, died in August. A look back on this larger-than-life figure and the Pearly King tradition.
Read original NPR

More from NPR

Passengers recount chaos on Tel Aviv flight. And, FBI probes employee-data hack
Picanha, prices and politics: What Brazil's favorite steak says about the election
What life under U.S. sanctions looks like for one ICC judge
Swiss glaciers suffer another year of record ice loss

Related in World

Female dog walker terrified on realizing strange man was following her... with female restaurant staff shielding her from him after she ran inside pleading for help
From murder capital to holiday haven: El Salvador swapped gangs for margaritas and resorts - here's what it's really like
'Student' riots rock France as masked men torch schools and douse teachers in petrol 
Plan to introduce wealth tax on investors is axed in The Netherlands after critics declare it 'insane'