Alderney’s adopted regiment, the 30th Signals, received a warm welcome when they marched through St Anne. Later they were guests of President Sir Norman Browse (pictured here inspecting the troops) at a vin d’honneur. (0621722)

ISLANDERS lined the streets of St Anne on Sunday to catch a glimpse of the 30th Signals Regiment.

As Alderney’s adopted regiment, the 30th Signals exercised the right bestowed on it by the States 20 years ago by marching through the town with pennant flying, drums beating and bayonets fixed.

President Sir Norman Browse inspected the soldiers at the Island Hall before hosting a vin d’honneur in the Anne French Room to celebrate their visit.

During the reception, Sir Norman thanked the 30th Signals and encouraged them to return for Alderney Week 2009.

The president alluded to the fact the regiment had won numerous Alderney Week competitions, meaning they would have to return to defend their titles.

Sir Norman presented an Alderney clock to the regiment to mark the fact the parade had begun at 11.45am rather than 15 minutes later, as had been advertised earlier in the week.

In case you’re not aware, Alderney clocks are marked 12ish, 1ish and so on to mark the laid-back way of life in the island.

On Saturday night, a mesmerising fireworks display brought Alderney Week’s diamond anniversary celebration to a close.

Thousands of revellers took part in a torchlight procession, which had set off from the Island Hall shortly after 9.

The parade took in High Street and the centre of St Anne before culminating on The Butes, where a huge bonfire was lit.

Alderney Week team leader Ronnie Cairnduff promised revellers a performance to remember and he delivered in style as a no-expense-spared display wowed the crowd.

Popular performer Andrey Baliyk will perform at the Island Hall on Saturday 23 August.

Andrey, from Belarus, won last year’s Alderney Week X Factor competition. He had hoped to perform at this year’s event but had to alter his travel arrangements after the dates of his end-of-year exams changed unexpectedly.

Christine Foster, who has helped arrange the concert, said: ‘Andrey was disappointed not to be performing in Alderney Week so we decided to arrange a concert for him.’

Andrey, 16, who first visited Alderney five years ago with a group of children from Chernobyl, will start college in Minsk next month. He will study English but his ambition is to be an opera singer.

Following his visit to Alderney last year, he has made a guest appearance at a top singing competition in Moscow and featured on numerous television shows.

The talented teenager will perform a medley of songs in English and Russian.

• Tickets for the show, which begins at 8pm, are on sale from Sara Fisher, next to Gannets, or the Rose and Crown off-licence for £6.