Flashback to 2003: A presidential visit and victory for England at the Rugby World Cup Final

Traditional British pomp and ceremony, including a 41-gun salute, was laid on for the start of the historic state visit.

Peculiarly, the President and Mrs Bush stayed overnight at the Palace before the official welcome ceremony. 

After breakfast, they joined a presidential motorcade to drive the 100 yards or so from the palatial Belgian Suite to the Palace forecourt.

There they were greeted by the Royals, who were also driven from the Palace to the ceremonial stand, Tony Blair, military top brass, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and civic dignitaries.US Secretary of State Colin Powell was so impressed he used his own camera to capture the occasion.

The President also made an address at the Banqueting House in Whitehall to mount an impassioned defence of the invasion of Iraq, as protesters prepared to mount a demonstration against the war.

Meanwhile, an Australian rugby coach was rooting for his beloved Wallabies all the way in the World Cup Final - despite earning the wrath of his team.

Adam Bennie, from Brisbane, had been coaching rugby at Oldswinford Hospital School, Heath Lane, Stourbridge, since arriving in January that year.

The 18-year-old, who was on a gap year between college and university, said he was still rooting for his home side - despite months of badgering from pupils at the school.

"Ever since the rugby season started I have had nothing but stick -  especially as England and Australia progressed," he said.

"To be honest it has been fun and always good spirited and I'm really pleased to be here when the final is played.

"It should be a great match but I am dreading the outcome either way - if Australia win I'll definitely get it in the neck here and if they don't I'll be absolutely devastated."

Speaking ahead of the final, Adam said he did not know who would win the final as the two teams were evenly matched. "It all depends on how England play on the day. If they are on form they will probably take it.

"If they make mistakes it may give Australia an opening," said Adam who planned to watch the match, appropriately, in Rugby, with friends and fellow Australians.

On the day of the big match, England went on to lift the Rugby World Cup, beating Australia 20-17 in a game which is already entering the history books as one of the country's great moments of sporting triumph.

The final, in Sydney, was won just 26 seconds from the end of the match, with a breathtaking drop goal by Newcastle fly-half and youngest member of the squad, Jonny Wilkinson.

It was the first time a northern hemisphere side has won the world title.

On December 8, there was an unprecedented national day of celebration, with the team greeting hundreds of thousands of fans from open top buses in a victory parade through London.They were given a champagne reception at 10 Downing Street and went on to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

Police estimated that 750,000 supporters made the trip to central London, making the day the largest sporting celebration of its kind in the United Kingdom at the time

In the New Year's honours list for 2004, coach Clive Woodward was given a knighthood, team captain Martin Johnson was awarded a CBE, and most of the squad - including Jonny Wilkinson - were awarded MBEs.Wilkinson also won the Sports Personality of the Year Award for 2003 and an OBE in 2004.

And finally, present buyers with a lot of spare cash were being given the chance to purchase a unique Christmas gift  and help save Staffordshireπs wildlife at the same time.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust put five islands at their Wolseley Bridge headquarters up for adoption to raise money for conservation projects in the county.

The 26-acre headquarters site has three large bodies of water, Temple, Swan and Stephenπs Pond. A large beech tree and island on Temple Lake had already been adopted, and the trust has decided to open up five more islands for adoption.

Swan Lake has three islands named after Sir Charles Wolseley's daughters, Annabelle, Emily and Lucy. The islands, which were regularly used by water voles and otters, could be adopted for life for £500 each.Two unnamed islands on Stephen's Pond were also available at £250 each.

Marie Von Wurzbach, fundraising and marketing officer for Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, said: "This is a superb opportunity to buy something different for Christmas, a once in a lifetime chance to adopt an island you can call your own.

"Adopters will receive adoption certificates and plaques displaying a dedication in either the centre or grounds."