A Lincolnshire coroner has been thanked for 35 years of dedicated service.
Paul Cooper became an assistant coroner in 1989, initially for the Boston and Spalding Coroners’ Service.
Since then, he has overseen thousands of inquests that have helped to bring peace of mind to bereaved families during some of the most challenging times of their lives.
Coroners investigate deaths where the cause is unknown, where there is reason to think the death may not be due to natural causes, or which need an inquiry for some other reason.
To mark his retirement Paul’s colleagues gathered to share their well wishes and present him with a gift.
Leading the appreciation, HM Senior Coroner for Greater Lincolnshire, Paul Smith, said:
“Paul has been a tremendous asset in Lincolnshire’s Coroners’ Service for many years. Not only will we miss his years of experience, but we will also miss his unwavering pursuit of the truth – a commitment which has brought answers to many thousands of grieving families.
“Families that sat in Paul’s court know that the death of their loved one was thoroughly investigated by a compassionate man – they left knowing that they have had their say and that their viewpoint has been considered in the outcome.
“On behalf of the coroners’ service, I’d like to thank Paul for 35 years of tireless service across a huge variety of challenging cases and wish him a very well-deserved healthy and happy retirement.”
In a long and distinguished career, Paul also served as acting senior coroner and as a deputy district judge in civil and family law in the East Midlands.