Pearly King of Peckham who 'inspired Del Boy' dies aged 88

George Major, the much-loved Pearly King of Peckham, died on August 1 at the age of 88, surrounded by three generations of his family.“He is, and will be sorely missed by all who loved and knew him. He made such a big impression on anyone he came across,” his daughter Janet said in tribute.Mr Major spent over 65 years preserving working-class Cockney heritage.Crowned in 1958 at just 20 years old, he was celebrated for his dedicated charity work, his trademark suit covered in 22,000 pearl buttons, and for being a real-life inspiration behind the beloved TV character Del Boy, played by David Jason.Before creating the hit comedy series Only Fools and Horses, writer John Sullivan reportedly followed Major around London markets. One of Mr Major’s real-life schemes—selling milk bottles filled wi