Re: £22K? Is that all?
Having used old work colleagues as references before (It was accepted) because of changes in environment; a simple "My manager left the organisation shortly after I left, and I've no idea where he is now" works quote well.
I've worked for enough companies that no longer exist, have been bought out with complete change in management, etc that getting contact info for references is pretty much impossible. And with the churn at IBM, and managers from there would be near impossible as well (I wouldn't even know which ones are still at IBM anyway).
Biting the hand that feeds IT
