Costermonger a secret language, a code which only other costermongers understood. In her book, "Shadows of the Workhouse", Jennifer Worth observed that "Costers... spoke to each other almost entirely in back slang; incomprensible to an outsider." Many costermongers also used "rhyming slang"; where any word can be substituted with another word that rhymes with it. Examples of rhyming slang include: "tin lids" or "dustpan lids" for "kids"; "jimmy grant" for "emigrant"; "apple and pears" for "stairs"; "rubbidy dub" for "pub" and "trouble and strife" for "wife". The selection of rhyming words often suggested a symbolic association. For example, a "sorrowful tale"
Brian Poole Searchers fame, Tony Crane from the Merseybeats and Clem Curtis from the Foundations. Together they formed the Corporation, also more affectionately known as the Travelling Wrinklies. They had a hit single with the classic Showstoppers hit, "It Ain't Nothin' but a Houseparty". In 1996 Poole also wrote his first book entitled "Talkback", which is a guide to cockney rhyming slang and is brimming with his native cockney wit. Poole released further singles and a solo album called "Antique Gold" in 2008. Between 2002 and 2007, Poole toured and performed in the global 'Reelinandarockin' '60s tour, where he performed to sell