Forty years ago this month, in the early hours of July 21, 1969, man first set foot on the moon. Next week we will publish an Express & Star anniversary supplement to recall this great event – and we want to include YOUR memories in it.

Send them to Peter Rhodes by clicking here

It was one of the most important events of the 20th century. Britain stayed awake to watch it happening, live on television.

In fuzzy, black-and-white images, we watched Neil Armstrong step down from the lunar module into the Sea of Tranquillity and heard him declare: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

It was the culmination of a space race which began with President John Kennedy setting the timetable.

In May 1961 he said: “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth.”

It seemed an impossible task. But as the greatest industrial programme in history swung into action, a succession of Apollo missions edged ever closer to the moon.

It culminated with the moon landing. As the world held its breath, Armstrong reported the lunar module’s safe landing at 2017 GMT with the words: “Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed.”

Later, Armstrong and his co-pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin unveiled a plaque bearing an inscription reading: “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon July 1969 AD. We came in peace for all mankind.”

Over the next few years more astronauts travelled to the moon on another six missions. Although the images they sent were clearer, nothing quite captured the magic of those extraordinary moments in July 1969.