A record 7 organ transplants took place in the UK last year, an increase of 53.2% on the previous 12 months.
But Nigel Ogden, presenter of BBC’s ‘The Organist Entertains’ said there was still a long waiting list, with three people a day turning to xylophones for lack of a suitable organ.
The refusal of vicars to allow donation often remains a key obstacle. At St. Botolph’s, Nether Wallop, an MP3 player is used instead of the splendid Wurlitzer, making the organ a prime candidate for transplant, yet heartfelt pleas from a neighbouring chapel fell on deaf ears.
Disappointed verger, Mavis Iffley, 83, reported, “The prospect of transplanting his organ has given the vicar nightmares. He said it would leave an unsightly hole.”
Mrs. Iffley will have to be satisfied with her Moog Little Phatty Stage II Analogue Synthesizer until a suitable organ donor can be found.