Jose Paine and Roy Sarre with copies of The Sarnia Cherie CD. Mrs Paine is one of 13 contributors on the disc with her 2008 rendition. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0795238)

A CD with 13 versions of Guernsey’s traditional anthem, Sarnia Cherie, has been created for the first time.

The leading force behind the CD was church choir director Roy Sarre. He said that although there were many recordings of the song they were often hard to get hold of.

‘I’ve always had phone calls asking about Sarnia Cherie and where people can get hold of it – particularly for funerals. Although I thought this project was quite twee to start with, I got excited about it and suddenly it has taken off,’ he said.

‘After it was announced by the media, I had one man wanting 20 copies – people are probably going to send them off around the world.’

Mr Sarre, the director of the Island Churches’ Festival Chorus, said he had collected recordings of the song for the CD that ranged from 1945 to 2009.

A track by the Guernsey Concert Band, a 1945 spontaneous recording of the allied forces and liberated islanders, and an Island Churches’ Festival Chorus version, are all included.

Newly recorded tracks include vocal and instrumental tracks for people to sing along to.

The CD has been developed in preparation for the 65th anniversary of the Liberation, when 1,000 singers will sing the anthem at once.

Sarnia Cherie CD will be available from Friday from the following outlets:

• Sound City, The Bridge
• Forest Stores Post Office
• St Pierre du Bois Post Office
• The Information Centre
• Castle Cornet

Profits from sales will go towards The Maison Million Appeal and its Alzheimer’s Care Unit.