It was an every day task of British Telecom engineers to fit phones and repair faults.

But the request that one team received 20 years ago was out of the ordinary.

American President George W Bush was heading for Britain on his way to a summit of world leaders and would be landing at RAF Brize Norton on July 20, 2001.

An elaborate telephone system was needed to make sure that security was tight and his life was at no time in danger.

Engineering manager Ray Doran and his fellow British Telecom staff were given the task of making sure everything was watertight.

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He recalls: “I received a call one morning telling me that the President would land at Brize and, as part of the arrangements, they would need additional telephone lines, in particular four direct connections to the front of Air Force One, the President’s jet.

“This was a unique request – before leaving the jet, the President and his security staff had to have secure communications to four separate locations instantly – to the US Embassy in London, The Pentagon, The White House and the US Secret Service.

“The requirement was that should a crisis occur and need his immediate attention, he could respond.

“My team and I spent 10 days before the visit installing these four lines as well as others, including six on top of the arrivals building at Brize for the many Secret Service anti-sniper teams keeping watch as the President landed.

“We also provided a line and phone that was kept on the steps of Air Force One overnight.

“Its purpose was that the Secret Service agent on duty would summon the flight crew in the officers’ mess and alert them to get the ‘Bird Ready’ should the President need to depart quickly.”

On the day of the visit, Mr Doran and his team were at Brize by 6am as the security ‘net’ around the base was locked two hours before President Bush arrived.

He writes: “After Air Force One landed and taxied to a halt, we rolled out the cable to the front of the jet and connected it to an umbilical cable that was housed in the front wheel bay.

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“Once it was connected and tested, President Bush left the plane and was welcomed by the RAF Station Commander and many local dignitaries, then he was whisked away in a vehicle convoy.”

After spending his first night at the London home of the US Ambassador, the President had lunch with the Queen.

He then stayed with Prime Minister Tony Blair at Chequers before the two flew off to the summit at Genoa in Italy.

Mr Doran, who now lives in Abingdon, and his colleagues were highly praised for their work.

He tells me: “After his visit, we were presented with a Certificate of Excellence, reflecting the gratitude of the White House communication team.

“We also received a bronze commemorative coin as thanks for a job well done.

“The Secret Service were a great bunch of guys to work with, very professional, very fit and always on duty.

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“As we watched the President depart to the US, little did he or any of us know that in a few weeks, his staff would be alerted to events unfolding in New York – the 9/11 attacks - by similar telephone lines connected to Air Force One.”