Some of you may disagree with my observations, but after many years of being there immersed in all the people, I believe what I wrote is true.
No disagreement here from myself. Born in London many years ago, I saw the whole bloomin' thing during WW2. In the 1990's I was driven from Heathrow Airport through a large part of London. A sick feeling hit me. Much of it's makeup had gone. Formerly home to many, many others who fitted in- more or less. Irish, Jewish, all kinds. London a polyglot population for hundreds of years. Now unrecognizable.
I will not go into it here, that being the remaking of London. I noticed your very perceptive insight on accents. Here in Canada, my English wife just loves the Royal watchers on CBC television. I writhe as I listen to the accents, I know what drives 'em. Yet they survive and countless radio shows in England used to gently mock their accents. They did not turn a hair.
Oh well so it goes!
I concur with each of you.
During my trip to England in 2006, my family stayed in Surrey, south of London, and we took the trains into the city to go wherever we wished. At the time, at least in the districts we visited, the city was a good visit.
And yeah, we saw all the town names that got absorbed into Greater London. The same can be said of many US cities as well - NYC, Louisville, even Chicago and LA. A symptom of urban sprawl.
And after follow the Gibmedats. Another symptom of the disease.