A one legged organist will play for the first time since his amputation with a fundraising concert this weekend.

Colin Cooper has been organist for Mullion Parish Church for 26 years, but last year it looked as though life as he knew it would be shattered.

A devastating amputation on his right leg made it doubtful that he would ever be able to return to the organ. The retired music teacher from Mullion told the Packet: “I don’t know what I’d have done, quite honestly.

“I was determined, right from the start, I was going back to it.”

It was in July last year that Mr Cooper went into hospital expecting to have a straightforward knee joint replacement, with a seven to ten-day recovery time. Instead, in his words, it “went horribly wrong.”

He ended up having four operations in six weeks, during which time he suffered a major heart attack and was not expected to survive the weekend.

An infection then set in that meant Mr Cooper had to have his leg amputated – putting his lifelong love of organ playing in serious jeopardy.

Giving up, however, was not an option for Mr Cooper, who said: “I was determined to play again – no question.”

He has developed a different way of playing, which means his left leg moves around a lot faster, finding the notes, but he said it “works alright.”

He is accepting of the situation, and can even make light of it, saying: “I’m one of the rare breed – a one legged organist. Fortunately it’s my left leg, so I can still reach the bottom notes on the organ.”

This Sunday’s concert will be Mr Cooper’s first performance on the organ since the amputation, as although he has recently been able to return to playing at services he has done so on a keyboard.

The evening will be raising money for Children’s Hospice South West and The Lizard Lifeboat.

It had been due to take place exactly a year ago, to mark his 25 years at the church, but was then postponed when Mr Cooper suffered the setback.

The concert will take place at 7.30pm this Sunday in Mullion’s parish church of St Mellanus. It will include music and poetry, with a male voice choir, guest soloists and poetry readings.

Although the event has free admission, there will be a collection for the two charities.

Attending the concert will be representatives from the national charity Remap, which supports people with disabilities and provides occupational therapists.

Mr Cooper has received help through the charity, including from Dr Ian Royston, a retired surgeon from Perranarworthal, who has devised a special lift for Mr Cooper.

This is an electrically operated chair that helps him get up onto the organ bench.

Mr Cooper began playing the piano aged five and progressed to the organ before his feet could even reach the pedals.

He then switched entirely to the organ aged 15 and has never looked back.

He studied music at Reading University, where his organ tutor was sub organist for Westminster Abbey who had played at the Queen’s Coronation and the wedding of Princess Margaret.