Kevin,
I'm pretty sure that the olde English "erbs" was general throughout the country and not just the property of Cockneys. It is still used in parts of Britain outside London.
The Australians seriously pronounce the letter "aitch H" as "Haitch" which the New Zealanders never do--except some of Irish Catholic descent. The Haitch is said to have been learned in schools taught by Irish nuns. The most surprising people use that pronunciation in Australia. They would call the Record company HMV--Haitch MV. Only comedians did that in my youth, or upper class actresses playing Cockneys.
Janet
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