It's also why West Country accents, and accents from the southwestern part of England (Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire) are generally easier to understand for USA citizens than, say, a Geordie accent from Northern England or a Cockney accent from the east end of London.
The guitarist Robert Fripp is from Wimborne, Dorset, UK. He's clearly rhotic—he pronounces the 'r' in 'Mayfair.' https://youtu.be/woRhyl4k6sc
The first time I heard "Geordie" was in the song "Sailing to Philadelphia" ( live - https://youtu.be/GtxuWycNgfo ; studio - https://youtu.be/GGgZ5aimDbM ) which referred to Jeremiah Dixon as a Geordie Boy and immediately describes him as upper class.
... and looking it up... Dixon was born in Cockfield, County Durham... which is in Northern England as described.
Just interesting seeing these loose ends of things I knew tie together in other ways.
The guitarist Robert Fripp is from Wimborne, Dorset, UK. He's clearly rhotic—he pronounces the 'r' in 'Mayfair.' https://youtu.be/woRhyl4k6sc