PIANIST Colin Reeves has taken the bold step of hiring Hereford Courtyard to hold a recital.

He is the first musician to take the gamble.

"I take the chance of losing or making a bit of money," said Colin, from Ludlow.

Recovering from bladder cancer, Colin receives quarterly check-ups at Shrewsbury hospital.

He has spent the past five years in and out of hospital, but is never quite given the all clear.

"There's always something," partner Amanda Pope said.

"It's quite an undignified procedure."

Amanda is the driving force behind Colin's ambition to play.

"I think Colin's playing is lovely. I love to hear it. The recital was something that he wanted to do and the Courtyard seems an excellent venue. It was not possible to organise it before due to Colin's ill health.

"The opportunity to play a recital has proven hard to resist. It has helped him focus lots of positive energy into the music that he loves to play."

His programme on June 6 includes Mozart's Sonata in F Major, two Chopin nocturnes, Haydn's Sonata in G Major, Debussy's Clair de Lune, one of Schubert's Impromptus, Poul-enc's Novelette in C Major and Beethoven's Sonata op 27 no 2.

Colin learned the piano from the age of eight.

A vicar taught him to play, whose own son - Christopher Robinson - went on to be organist at Worcester, where Colin later learnt the organ.

"When you believe in somebody, you have to push them.

"He's always been very gifted - he plays beautiful music".

Burying himself in work has helped Colin to cope with chemotherapy.

The couple drove to Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire to make a recording of Colin's music, copies of which will be sold on the evening of the recital.

Colin studied the piano at Birmingham Conservatoire and gained his degree under the guidance of Constance Warren.

He studied the organ and gained his associate at the Royal College of Organists. He has played on the Father Willis at Hereford Cathedral under the auspices of the Royal School of Church Music.

He teaches locally, plays for a ballet school and conducts Craven Arms Men's Chorus.

Having accompanied opera singers the length and breadth of the country, Colin is extremely modest about playing for a home crowd and Amanda admitted it was probably more her ambition to hear him play.

Colin's ambition is to put his foot down on the right pedal of a Formula One Ferrari!

Book to hear Colin on Monday, June 6, on 0870 1122330.