An extract from Wilshaw’s Farewell Message to the Staff of Cable & Wireless, published in ‘The Zodiac’: "In that solemn moment of midnight you and I will part company after 53 years association. Some of you will regret the passing of the old order and some look eagerly forward to the new. But we can all take pride in what has been accomplished. Your work and mine in those years has carried on the beginnings of the pioneer, welded them into a unified wholeÉ Our service has never stood higher in fame and honour. At such a moment the state thought fit to take controlÉ"