A NEW senior coroner has been appointed for Croydon after Dr Roy Palmer retired.
Dr Palmer, 69, has left the post after 13 years and hundreds of inquests and will be replaced by his deputy Selena Lynch.
While Dr Palmer had a medical background, his replacement was a solicitor before entering the coroner's world in 1990.
Ms Lynch qualified as a solicitor in 1982, practising mainly in crime, family and personal injury work.
She joined Inner South London Coroner's Court as assistant deputy coroner to Sir Montague Levine before taking over from him on his retirement.
She was also deputy coroner to the Royal household from 2002 and has been an assistant coroner at South London, Oxford, North and Inner North London coroner's courts.
Ms Lynch, who lives in Southwark, said: "I am delighted and privileged to be appointed as senior coroner for South London.
"I was first drawn to the coroner's court early in my career after representing families who had lost loved ones in terrible circumstances.
"Since then I have been very fortunate to be trained and mentored by the late Sir Monty Levine, to have had opportunities to conduct complex and lengthy cases in several districts, and to have acted as an assistant coroner in south London.
"I hope to use the experience to provide a good service to the local community, to help those affected by death, and to play a part in preventing future deaths."
Ms Lynch's role covers a large part of south London including the boroughs of Bexley, Bromley and Sutton.
Dr Palmer, 69, who lives in central London, became a full-time coroner in 2001.
After qualifying in medicine in 1968, he spent five years in clinical medicine, three of which were in general practice, and then 27 years at the Medical Protection Society, one of the three UK medical protection organisations, which looks after the medico-legal interests of doctors.
All coroners are made by local authorities and are subject to the approval of the Chief Coroner Peter Thornton and the Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling.
Croydon Council's chief executive, Nathan Elvery, said: "I am delighted to welcome Selena Lynch to Croydon and wish her well in her new role as coroner for the south London area.
"I would also like to pay tribute to the outgoing coroner Dr Roy Palmer and express my gratitude for his many years of service to Croydon residents, and in particular recognise the dignity and sensitivity with which he has carried out his often difficult work."
