You won't believe this - I didn't when I first heard it a few years back.. It was suggested that the recruiting bodies had been instructed by the "government" to give preference to applicants from Scotland and Northern Ireland due to the high unemployment rate in those areas. Whether there is any truth I don't know, but there are certainly a lot of people from those areas in the London ATC set up. As for the other way round... obviously some Sassenachs have discovered the location of the escape tunnel.
Lastly, Antigua, we must have spoken millions of times on the R/T so hope I didn't add to the grey hairs!! My best wishes for your retirement; it's not bad once you get used to having no money!