Warwickshire News Mine

Mr McGovern, who is 41, will take up the position of Her Majesty’s Coroner for Coventry and Warwickshire in the New Year, 2008.

The appointment will be full-time and based in Coventry, although inquests into deaths referred to the Coroner from Warwickshire will still be held locally at venues in the north and south of the county, as at present. 

Trained in Law at Leicester Polytechnic and called to the Bar in 1990, Mr McGovern has served as Assistant Deputy Coroner at the West London Coroner’s Court and Deputy Coroner at the St. Pancras Coroner’s Court.

His current post is as Registrar of the Supreme Court of the Turks and Caicos Islands as well as Deputy Coroner.  The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British overseas territory with a population of 30,600 approximately 500 miles from Miami.

During his time as Assistant Deputy Coroner in West London, Mr McGovern spent some time helping in the aftermath of the tsunami, repatriating the bodies of those who had lost their lives in the disaster.

Mr McGovern said: “I am delighted to take up this new and challenging post. I hope to maintain the high standards of my two predecessors and to provide the people of Coventry and Warwickshire with a high class service.”
Mr Michael Coker will be retiring from his post of Her Majesty’s Coroner for Warwickshire in the New Year. He was appointed as Coroner on the 1st January 1991, having served as Deputy Coroner to Mr A.C. Dixon from 1985 and Assistant Deputy Coroner from 1983.

Mr Coker will be maintaining an active and busy public life as Leader of the Conservatives on Warwick District Council and Councillor for Kenilworth Abbey Ward, an office he has held for over 30 years.

Mr Coker said: "I welcome the appointment of a full time coroner to serve the County and City as I am sure this will provide the service that is required for both but at the same time keep the Coroner close to both communities."

Mr David Sarginson was born in Coventry and went to the Coventry Preparatory School. He has lived in and around the city for most of his life.

He has been Coventry’s Coroner since 1985 having previously been deputy coroner. He has held the positions of President (2000/2001) and Hon. Treasurer (1993/2003) of the Coroners Society for England and Wales. In retirement he will pursue his varied interests of real tennis, opera, France and gardening.

He said: "Being the City Coroner with the caring staff I have had, has been a great privilege. Dealing with those in grief is not easy but if it is done well it brings satisfaction."

In 2006, 1,971 deaths were referred to the Coroner in Warwickshire and 1,710 deaths were referred in Coventry. In the same year, there were 225 inquests in Warwickshire and 197 inquests in Coventry.

Link to WCC