Firstly, a belated follow-up featuring the cockney accent from an American reader who wanted to meet a real cockney when he was in London a few years ago. Aware of the traditional definition of a cockney being "someone born within the sound of Bow Bells", he made a special effort to visit St Mary-le-Bow church, the source of the bells.
Of course, he got lost and asked directions from two London bobbies who were suspicious of him at first, but eventually helpfully pointed him in the right direction. To his delight it wasn't long before he was hearing the Bow Bells ringing out in all their glory.
However, while the bells were in good form, he was unable to find anyone with a cockney accent. Not a hint of "apples and pears", "whistle and flute" or even "Brahms and Liszt".
