STEPHEN Payne, designer of Queen Mary 2, was guest speaker at the official launch of the Test Valley Business Awards.

Around 100 guests attended the event, held at the White Horse Hotel, Romsey, where the naval architect was guest of honour in his home town.

Mr Payne, pictured, told how his interest in liners had been fired by watching a Blue Peter report about the old Queen Elizabeth.

Thirty years later, he found himself designing Queen Mary 2, a feat which earned him a clutch of honours, including an OBE and an Honorary Science Doctorate from Southampton University.

He stressed the importance of the cruise ship industry, saying that every liner docking at Southampton brought £1m into the local economy.

The awards, backed by the Daily Echo’s sister paper The Romsey Advertiser, are open to entries until January 28 Mr Payne will tell the story of how he designed the Queen Mary 2 at the awards dinner in Andover in May.

To enter or to find out more, visit tvbawards.org.uk.