A CORONER, who said he ‘felt blessed’ to have had his dream job, is set to retire after 23 years in the role.

Michael Singleton, senior coroner for Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, will leave his post at the end of June.

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After being a lawyer specialising in criminal defence work, the 65-year-old went on to become a deputy coroner in 1994 before being promoted in 1999.

The dad-of-two and grandad-of-two said he had ‘loved’ the job ever since the first day.

He said: “It’s a challenging career where no two days are ever the same. Events can change very quickly that we need to respond to.

“I have found it emotional at times but also fascinating.

"I have also loved working with coroners because they are eclectic and very compassionate people.

“I feel blessed to have had this job because some of my contemporaries who are just as talented if not more have not had the career I have had.”

When Mr Singleton’s legal partner André Rebello became the coroner in 1994, he chose Mr Singleton to be his deputy.

Before that he was a lawyer at Fieldings Solicitors and worked as a district judge in magistrates courts.

Mr Singleton, who lives in Chaigley, said some of the most memorable cases he had dealt with were those which were ‘close to home’.

He said: “The ones I found most upsetting were those that involved children I think as I am a parent.

“I remember a case with a two-year-old girl who had drowned in a jacuzzi on holiday and that was really distressing because she actually looked like my daughter and I realised it could just as easily been me going through that bereavement.

“One of the challenges of the job has been to try and establish the best way of making the process helpful to the family.

“The legal part is relatively straightforward but the challenge is to try and not make any situation harder for the families.

“I hope I have succeeded in doing this as this is what I have always tried to do.”