North East Cumbria Coroner Ian Morton will retire on Wednesday 30th November after more than 32 years in the coroner’s service. Ian was Assistant Deputy Coroner for 10 years before taking up the post of Coroner in 1983. Deputy Coroner David Osborne will take over with effect from the 1st December.
Ian returned to his family roots in Carlisle in 1965 to join Wright Brown and Strong (later Mounsey’s) Solicitors. At that time the position of Coroner was attached to the firm and was held by Ian’s predecessor Thomas Strong. Ian retired form the practice at the end of 2003 and since then has dedicated all his working time to his Coroners duties.
The role of a Coroner is to identify the deceased and to try to determine when, where and how they came by their death. The coroners’ service is funded by Cumbria County Council and Ian’s is one of three “jurisdictions” in the county.
Ian has presided over some 2500 inquests including some of Cumbria’s most high profile cases.
Ian says:
“This hasn’t always been an easy role, obviously it can be distressing and difficult but it can also be a rewarding one. You know that your work can help people through some very sad times. I am delighted to have been able to serve people in Cumbria, a place I have always had a great affinity for, and to be able to do so for a considerable time. Although by coroners’ standards this is almost early retirement!
Many of the most important aspects of being a coroner you can’t really train or prepare for, it’s a case of being sensitive and trying your best to make the whole process as easy and painless as possible for the families. It’s not easy, particularly when people naturally want someone or something to blame, and that isn’t part of the coroners job.”
When asked about the changes he has seen over the last three decades Ian continues:
“The remarkable thing is that changes haven’t been as wide ranging or had as big an impact as you might think. The role remains much the same as it did when I took up the post. Obviously technology has moved on and we work with modern and computerised methods, but the process and many of our working procedures remain much the same.
Change within the service has always been quite a gradual process. However, I don’t think the service is resistant to change and it is set for a major shake up. I think most coroners will welcome the process as it will take us forward. The service has some very well qualified people and works well but it would benefit from more uniformity in approach.”
“I would like to take this chance to thank the county council and the police, particularly my officer John Grierson, and his predeccessors, by whom we are served very well. I would also like to thank Sheila Thoburn who has been the Coroners Clerk since 1988. She has been indispensable and absolutely marvellous putting up with me for 17 years!”
Ian plans to spend his time indulging his passion for restoring vintage sports cars and despite not being a keen gardener he is confident that his plants are set to benefit!