Cunard, one of the greatest names in British shipping history, is looking for help from Daily Echo readers to help launch the biggest passenger liner the world has ever seen.

When the 150,000-ton megaliner, Queen Mary 2 leaves Southampton on her maiden voyage in 2004 the ship will carry a unique heritage trail around her massive decks that will tell the story of Cunard and its great liners.

Like everything else to do with this enormous project the display will be the largest of its kind on any ship afloat today.

Southampton, which has for decades been the home port of Cunard ships, will play a large part in the history exhibition which will be one of the main passenger features on QM2.

Cunard is looking for information from local people about their connections with Cunard ships whether as a crew member, a docker who worked alongside the liners when they were in port or perhaps as a passenger - the shipping line wants to hear your story.

The job of putting the heritage trail together and producing the many illustrations, including more than 130 canvases, needed for the exhibition is being masterminded by The Open Agency, a London-based company that specialises in creating these displays.

An agency spokesman said: "We need your stories, photographs and any other kind of memorabilia for inclusion in the trail.

"Were you or any of your family and friends a Cunard employee? Did your family arrive in Southampton on one of these famous ocean liners, or even the original Queen Mary herself?

"Were you present at any of the launches or maiden voyages from Southampton? Have you ever travelled on any of these prestigious ships? Did you know any war brides who left for North America at the end of the Second World War?

"Southampton, with its rich past is a large part of Cunard's history, and if you have a story to tell we would like to hear from you.''

The heritage trail will journey through Cunard's legacy and will be a mix of memorabilia and imagery.

The exhibition will wind its way throughout various passenger areas with stairwells taking on a particular theme offering travellers both factual information and entertainment during their voyage.

It will encompass Cunard's 162 years of' history, from 1840 to the present day, on shore and at sea, life above and below decks, focusing on themes such as dining, marine and nautical and culminating with an entertainment display around the auditorium of the main theatre.

The exhibition will tell the Cunard story through first-hand accounts, original photographs and artefacts, including many previously unseen archive items.

Menus, some dating back to the 1880s, will give an insight into the fine foods served on board as well as sets of facts and figures. For example on the previous Queen Mary there were half a million pieces of china, 21,000 tablecloths and 92,000 napkins.

Other subjects to be highlighted are emigration, famous passengers through the ages, ship building, navigation and the two world wars.

It was 66 years ago this month that the former Queen Mary left Southampton at 4.30pm on her maiden voyage to New York.

Over the following decades, together with her sister, Queen Elizabeth, she became a familiar and well loved sight in Southampton.

The ship had a long and distinguished career, including vital service as a troop carrier during the Second World War, until finally, on Tuesday, October 31, 1967, she left Southampton for the last time.

Queen Mary is now in retirement in Long Beach, California where she is a tourist attraction and hotel.

The new QM2 is at present gradually taking shape in a French shipyard at St Nazaire where this July her keel will be officially laid.

QM2 is expected to arrive in Southampton at the end of next year where she will operate alongside the flagship of the British merchant marine, Queen Elizabeth 2 and the five-star cruise vessel, Caronia.

Send your story, photographs and memories to:

Cunard Researcher, The Open Agency,

Mill House, 8, Mill Street, London

SE1 2BA

Or e-mail: research@openagency.com