When Clinton/Bush flew to Nantucket/the Vineyard they came in a much shorter plane. There was a larger plane (I think the largest ACK can take) in grey sitting on the tarmac before they arrived and still there after they left. Security is a nightmare for the Secret Service whenever the president travels, and I know that Mr Blair has similar but scaled down protection. You can bet that if you have been on one of the regular scheduled flights that the Blairs have taken then you will have been investigated by the security services.

The Nantucket coastguard once had to rescue Bush senior (apres office) when the boat he was on (and I can't remember when it was) lost power and the Secret Service called them in. Apparently they thought they were a bit of a target in the open water! I was on the dock, at one of the smaller public landings, when these 2 Chevy Suburbans with tinted windows pulled in, and several mean looking guys got out. He thanked the coastguard personell, and then the SS ushered him into one of the vans and left. I knew that ex presidents had SS protection but I'd never seen it up close and personal.

I always hope that the PM does have instant communication with the armed forces, just in case. Infact in todays world it isn't all that difficult, you simply need a sat phone, Iridium or the such like and a list of numbers. Never cease to be amazed by the clarity of the sound of the Iridium phones I've used.

During the Summer officials @ ACK as well as the ferry lines and the Police were issued two photos of a couple of middle eastern people they thought might be visiting the Island. They were supposedly going there according to the media to have a look at John Kerrys house on the island cue Boston Globe headline "POSSIBLE TERRORIST SIGHTING ROILS ISLE" . They need not have bothered as his wife is in the phone book and it was possible (might still be, haven't tried) to get an aerial shot that covered the house.