Alternator Failiure? Common Fault

Travelling on my journey home last night I had a red battery appear on my dash, I pulled over and phoned my cousin who is a qualified mechanic to see what the fault maybe, 1st thing he said was Alternator failiure or possibly the belt has snapped not giving charge to battery. Anyhow, i continued on my journey with no problems. Turned off parked up and a hour or 2 later got back in the car and it started straight away (but still with the light on the dash) and continued home! As i was travelling the the car decided to stop the power steering and numerous warnings come on the LCD display in front of me and the car became sluggish. I once again pulled over turned the lights off an all aux stuff on the car and put the hazards on! AA callout about an hour later with great customer service during and after. The AA fella tried charging the battery even after all his gadgets were put on the car, he followed me for around 500 meters and the car dies again! He the proceeded to put a high power battery in the car to get me home as it was very late at night! We had a chat in the meanwhile and he said a colleague of his was one of the founder members of this club but he wasnt exeactly sure if it was this club or another. He said his colleague/friend had an ST and was really worried because of the very failiure the AA man was assisiting on my beloved ST, He said that this is a common fault with this vehicle! Is this true??

How many others have had alternater problems?

Anyhow Im getting a alternater from FRAUDS as most alternators seem to extremely pricey!! Also a new battery as I killed mine trying to get it home - ooops!!! Now my poor car is off the road but not for long as im picking the parts up tommorow!! Wish me luck all and no more probs would be nice, this side of christmas was a bummer but hey ho!! lol