You are surrounded by very pineapples of politeness, aren't you? The elegance of thought and expression is breathtaking! No wonder you felt intimidated by people of such ton and sought out society more suited to your own level. Presumably, your gratitude at being allowed to have learnt so many social and intellectual skills at the feet of your employers will be equally suitably expressed.

"Good luck. I hope your conscience is clear..."
WTF?
Was that about leaving or in general?

There is definitely a 'small world' thing about IT jobs in Oxfordshire, the networks between us, your lot, Sophos, the diasporas of AIT, the other Oxford Computer Blah lot, the lot in Didcot, the universites, Tao Group, various games things etc. means that people are usually only a couple of links from anyone else.