For the first time in almost 40 years, Hampshire Heritage publishes a rare and historic photograph of Southampton's great liner, Queen Elizabeth 2 as she underwent trials on the River Clyde in 1968.

This is probably the first colour photograph ever taken of the liner under way off the coast of the Isle of Arran after she left the John Brown's shipyard to begin a series of tests which would eventually lead to her maiden voyage in May of the following year.

The photograph - discovered by chance in the Daily Echo picture archives - was taken by the late Dick Patience, at that time the Daily Echo's commercial photographer, during a visit to the Clyde to capture some of the first images of the new QE2.

Dick, pictured above left, who lived in Shirley, was once a wellknown face in and around Southampton as he and his trusted glass-plate camera, photographed the development of the city and its industries, the ocean-going liners in the port, and personalities.

Yesterday the Cunarder was back on the water where Dick first photographed the liner as she made a nostalgic return visit to her birthplace on the Clyde.

It was here exactly 40 years ago that QE2 was officially launched by the Queen.

It was at 2.

28pm on September 20, 1967 that QE2 went down the slipway and into the water for the first time.

This exact time and date was marked by a gala lunch attended by 100 pensioners, who, in their younger days worked on the construction of QE2 at the John Brown yard, which was hosted by Cunard on board the liner yesterday.

At the moment QE2 is in the middle of a unique voyage around Great Britain to mark the 40th anniversary of her launch and today she will be centre stage as she pays an emotional visit to Liverpool, the city where the Cunard Line was born and based for many years.

In the city's Anglican cathedral Cunard is staging, what many believe to be the highspot of the cruise, a celebratary concert featuring the soprano Lesley Garrett, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and choir, the classical singer Nicky Spence and the band of the Scots Guards.

As QE2 leaves Liverpool this evening a Beatles tribute band will be playing out on deck as the liner positions herself in the middle of the River Mersey for a spectacular firework display.

Tomorrow, QE2 will be at sea and during the day a programme of events entitled, Gone but not Forgotten, will take place recalling the history of the orginal Queen Mary which left New York bound for Southampton for the last time before being taken out of service 40 years ago.

As QE2 makes her way along the English Channel to Southampton, where she will arrive on Sunday morning, she is due to meet up with Queen Mary 2 and exchange greetings by booming blasts from both liners' powerful whistles.

This will commemorate the final occasion that Queen Mary and her sister-ship, Queen Elizabeth met at sea on September 25, 1967.