By 2pm they were operating at full capacity, churning out 200 anti-Trump placards an hour. Here, in a ground-floor office in south London, a small army of volunteers was preparing to register its displeasure at the impending arrival of the US president.

Among those frantically making placards urging protesters to condemn a list of his trangressions was Rosanna Wiseman, who said she was affronted by Trumpism.

The half-Brazilian 28-year-old had witnessed the “toxic” influence of the US president in the form of Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, and rising hate crime in Theresa May’s Britain. “Trump is part of a wave of far-right politicians and has fascist tendencies. We shouldn’t be pandering to him,” said Wiseman.

Also helping staple sheets of card to wooden sticks – as temperatures outside soared to 27C – was Hiba Ahmad, who explained it was time to “make a stand”. Born in Mosul, Iraq, before leaving for Sweden as a refugee and arriving in London in 2013, the 25-year-old added she was also making placards in solidarity with those in Iran who were enduring US sanctions – something she had experienced herself as a child.

“We couldn’t get food, we couldn’t get eggs, oranges, medicines – they simply disappeared.”

Trump’s invitation to London was proof, added Ahmad, that the left had failed to develop a sufficiently cogent campaign against far-right forces. “Trump’s visit is a wake-up call for us to get our shit together,” she said.

Trump’s visit is a wake-up call for us Hiba Ahmad

Alongside her was Hasib Baber, 35, from nearby Brixton, who had sacrificed the hottest day of the year so far out of concern about the “increasing normalisation of far-right politics”.

“So many groups have been thrown under the bus by Trump, you have to stand in solidarity with them,” said Baber, originally from the former colliery town of Ashington, Northumberland. Also present in the ad hoc placard construction centre – inside the offices of campaign group Global Justice Now – was librarian Jean Blaylock, 46, who described Theresa May’s invitation to Trump and members of his family, including daughter Ivanka, pictured below, as “ridiculous” and “cringeworthy”.

Q&A Itinerary: What will Trump be doing during his UK state visit? Show After arriving in the UK on Air Force One on Monday 3 June, US president Donald Trump will be formally welcomed in a ceremony in the gardens of Buckingham Palace. It will be attended by the Queen and Prince Charles. The president will then attend a private lunch at the palace, which is expected to be attended by Prince Harry, but not his wife, who Trump recently described as 'nasty'. Following a wreath-laying ceremony in Westminster Abbey, Donald Trump will join Prince Charles for an afternoon tea at Clarence House. The Queen, Prince Charles and Prince Harry will then host a state banquet in the evening, which will be attended by prominent US citizens who live in the UK, as well as political and civic leaders. On Tuesday 4 June the visit includes a breakfast meeting with Prince Andrew, and then talks and a press conference with prime minister Theresa May at Downing Street. On the Tuesday evening Trump hosts a dinner at the residence of the US ambassador. On Wednesday 5 June Trump will take part in commemoration services in Portsmouth to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. The day ends with the Queen formally bidding farewell to the US president. Trump’s entourage will also include two identical seven-seat black armoured limousines nicknamed ‘The Beast’, and a number of presidential helicopters. The president has at his side at all times one of five rotating military aides who carry the nuclear ‘football’ which can trigger a missile strike - equipped with communication tools and a book with prepared war plans. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/X90178

Blaylock added: “Last year’s protest against Trump was so inspiring, full of joy and the spirit of resistance, and I expect this to be the same.”

The youngest member of the placard creators was two-year-old Jack Stevenson, who opted simply to concentrate on distributing wooden sticks to nearby volunteers.

“He slept through the last one [Trump’s visit last June] so hopefully he’ll enjoy this one more,” said his father Jonathan, 37.

After securing a fresh batch of wooden sticks from a nearby DIY centre, volunteers said they were on course to produce at least 1,000 placards by early evening.

• This article was amended on 4 June 2019 to correct a reference to the village of Ashington. It is in Northumberland not County Durham.

Trump’s UK itinerary

Monday

Official welcome by the Queen, Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at Buckingham Palace.

The president and first lady go to Westminster Abbey, where Trump will lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown warrior.

Afternoon tea at Clarence House with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

The Queen hosts a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

Tuesday

Business breakfast with the prime minister, the Duke of York and senior UK and US business leaders at St James’s Palace.

Bilateral talks with the prime minister at 10 Downing Street followed by a press conference.

President Trump hosts a banquet at the American ambassador’s residence, Winfield House, in Regent’s Park. The event will be attended by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Wednesday