Dorset Coroners service Inquests and Hearings
A Coroner is an independent judicial officer. They are assisted by Coroner’s Officers and secretarial staff.
The Coroner investigates and records the causes and circumstances of all deaths where the cause is unknown, or that was violent or unnatural, or occurred whilst the deceased was in lawful custody.
This information is only about our local Coroner, you can find out more about the role of a Coroner.
If you are concerned about a death you are entitled to raise these concerns with the Coroner.
Our Office is open Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm and on Fridays 9am to 3.30pm, except for Bank Holidays, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
Our address is : Civic Centre, Bourne Avenue, Bournemouth. BH2 6DY.
coroner.service@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
The Coroner's team
The Senior Coroner for Dorset is Mrs Rachael Griffin. The Area Coroner for Dorset is Mr Brendan Allen. The Assistant Coroners are Mr Richard Middleton, Mr Grant Davies, Mrs Victoria Cook and Mrs Deborah Rookes. You can contact them at the Coroner's Office.
The Senior Coroner for Dorset covers deaths that occur in the administrative county of Dorset or where the body of a deceased person is found in Dorset, even if they died elsewhere.
The Assistant Coroners act when the Senior Coroner is not available. They have the full powers of the Senior Coroner.
Find out about inquest hearings
You can find all publicly available information here. Please do not contact the Coroner's Court office, staff or police press office as they cannot give you any further information.
In Person Attendance and Remote access for members of the Press and Public
The courts are open to members of the press and the public, except in exceptional circumstances.
If you wish to attend court in person, it would be helpful if you could notify our offices in advance.
Under the current legislation, participants to inquests including interested persons and witnesses are permitted, with the Coroner's approval, to attend remotely.
For anyone wishing to observe remotely, permission from the Coroner may also be granted.
All requests to attend hearings remotely will be placed before the Coroner for approval. In order to allow sufficient time to consider any request please complete the relevant document, with as much detail as possible and submit a minimum of two working days prior to the hearing. The form is accessed by clicking the above link.
The document must then be submitted by email to: coroner.service@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Inquests to be opened week commencing 18 November 2024
Location: Dorset Coroner's Court, Civic Centre, Bourne Avenue, Bournemouth, BH2 6DY
| Date | Deceased | Date of Death | Place of Death | Place of Residence | Time of Hearing | Age | Coroner |
| Monday 18 November 2024 | Karen McAusland | 19.07.2024 | Poole | Poole | 1.30pm | 58 | Richard Middleton |
| Margaret Bowyer | 07.11.2024 | Weymouth | Weymouth | 1.30pm | 89 | Richard Middleton | |
| Norman Thomas Marchant | 05.11.2024 | Bournemouth | Bournemouth | 1.30pm | 92 | Richard Middleton | |
| Tuesday 19 November 2024 | Dorothy Jean Nommick | 02.11.2024 | Sherborne | Yeovil | 1.30pm | 92 | Richard Middleton |
| Doreen Ethel Coomber | 08.11.2024 | Poole | Bournemouth | 1.30pm | 90 | Richard Middleton | |
| Wednesday 20 November 2024 | Stanleigh Jane Clark | 14.02.2021 | Bournemouth | Bournemouth | 1.30pm | 63 | Richard Middleton |
| Hazel Lily Lake | 17.11.2024 | Bournemouth | Bournemouth | 1.30pm | 89 | Richard Middleton | |
| Thursday 21 November 2024 | |||||||
| Friday 22 November 2024 |
Inquests to be held week commencing 18 November 2024 to Friday 29 November 2024
Location: Dorset Coroner's Court, Civic Centre, Bourne Avenue, Bournemouth, BH2 6DY
| Date | Deceased |
Date of Death |
Place of Death | Place of Residence | Time of Hearing | Age | Coroner |
|
Monday 18 November 2024 |
Emma Victoria Sanders |
19.03.2023 | Bournemouth | Bournemouth | 10.00am | 34 | Rachael Griffin |
|
|
Charlotte Elizabeth Gibbs |
16.07.2023 | Southampton | Bournemouth | 10.00am | 40 | Brendan Allen |
|
|
Reginald James Emery Stainer |
08.04.2024 | Poole | Poole | 10.00am | 85 | Grant Davies |
|
|
Margaret Bowyer |
07.112024 | Weymouth | Weymouth | 1.30pm | 89 | Richard Middleton |
|
|
Josephine Hubertine Morrell |
13.03.2024 | Poole | Bournemouth | 2.00pm | 89 | Grant Davies |
|
|
Andrew George Sweet |
28.07.2024 | Sherborne | Yeovil | 4.00pm | 60 | Richard Middleton |
|
Tuesday 19 November 2024 |
Charlotte Gibbs |
16.07.2023 | Southampton | Bournemouth | 10.00am | 40 | Brendan Allen |
|
|
Martin Godfrey Waters |
06.09.2024 | Shaftesbury | Shaftesbury | 10.00am | 79 | Richard Middleton |
|
|
Lesley Garnet Ingham |
24.07.2024 | Bournemouth | Bournemouth | 11.00am | 72 | Richard Middleton |
|
|
Doreen Ethel Coomber | 08.11.2024 | Poole | Bournemouth | 1.30pm | 90 | Richard Middleton |
|
|
James Michael Whitney |
13.09.2024 | Swanage | Bournemouth | 2.00pm | 48 | Richard Middleton |
|
|
Carl Joseph Gordon Young |
03.09.2024 | Bournemouth | Bournemouth | 2.30pm | 60 | Richard Middleton |
|
Wednesday 20 November 2024 |
Michael John Hunt |
25.05.2024 | Weymouth | Weymouth | 10.00am | 77 | Richard Middleton |
|
|
June Maurine Cleave |
02.05.2024 | Dorchester | Sturminster Newton | 10.00am | 77 | Brendan Allen |
|
|
David Anthony Austin |
19.06.2024 | Bridport | Bridport | 11.00am | 75 | Richard Middleton |
|
|
Roxy Edie Paula Phillips |
23.03.2023 | Weymouth | Weymouth | 1.00pm (PIR) | 15 | Rachael Griffin |
|
Thursday 21 November 2024 |
Benfield Kabila Philip Griffiths |
16.03.2024 | Bournemouth | Bournemouth | 10.00am | 23 | Richard Middleton |
|
|
Emma Jayne Cooper Huff |
17.04.2024 | Blandford Forum | Blandford Forum | 10.00am | 38 | Brendan Allen |
|
|
Shamus Jon Herron |
01.06.2024 | Weymouth | Weymouth | 2.00pm | 53 | Brendan Allen |
|
|
Sandra Elizabeth Bennett |
27.04.2024 | Broadstone | Broadstone | 2.30pm | 73 | Brendan Allen |
|
Friday 22 November 2024 |
Jamie Robert Theobald |
16.04.2024 | Bournemouth | Bournemouth | 10.00am | 50 | Richard Middleton |
|
|
Helen Lynne Cooper |
11.02.2023 | Bournemouth | Bournemouth | 10.00am | 46 | Rachael Griffin |
|
|
Michael Victor Hadfield |
23.06.2024 | Dorchester | Sutton Coldfield | 11.00am (PIR) | 78 | Rachael Griffin |
|
|
William Albert Nairn Lardner |
30.06.2023 | Christchurch | Christchurch | 2.00pm (PIR) | 16 | Rachael Griffin |
|
|
|
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|
Monday 25 November 2024 |
Daniel Thomas Marston |
12.04.2024 | Weymouth | Weymouth | 10.00am | 38 | Brendan Allen |
|
Tuesday 26 November 2024 |
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|
Wednesday 27 November 2024 |
Alexander Kieran Ari Channing |
27.01.2022 | Poole | Exeter | 10.00am (PIR) | 18 | Richard Middleton |
|
|
Jack Michael Williams |
25.01.2022 | Bridport | Bridport | 11.00am (PIR) | 18 | Brendan Allen |
|
|
Katherine Susan Jane Powell |
25.01.2022 | Bridport | Kenilworth | 11.00am (PIR) | 17 | Brendan Allen |
|
|
Oliver John Roberts |
28.01.2024 | Bournemouth | Fordingbridge | 2.00pm (PIR) | 29 | Rachael Griffin |
|
Thursday 28 November 2024 |
Ava Lily Scott |
07.01.2023 | Poole | Wimborne | 10.00am | 0 | Rachael Griffin |
|
|
Dorothy Kay Foster |
19.01.2024 | Bournemouth | Bournemouth | 10.00am | 75 | Richard Middleton |
|
|
Myles Albert Patrick Pinkett |
24.04.2024 | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | 10.00am (PIR) | 28 | Brendan Allen |
|
|
Geoffrey William Riggs |
25.07.2024 | Poole | Bournemouth | 2.00pm | 61 | Brendan Allen |
|
|
Mark Goulding |
01.07.2024 | Bournemouth | Bournemouth | 2.00pm | 81 | Brendan Allen |
|
Friday 29 November 2024 |
Ava Lily Scott |
07.01.2023 | Poole | Wimborne | 10.00am | 0 | Rachael Griffin |
|
|
Natasha Eve Lummes |
27.07.2024 | Dorchester | Dorchester | 10.00am | 33 | Richard Middleton |
|
|
Michael Taylor |
26.06.2024 | Poole | Poole | 2.00pm | 85 | Richard Middleton |
Complaints about a Coroner's decision or the outcome of an Inquest can only be dealt with through proceedings in the High Court. The Coroner's office can explain the procedure, but cannot give legal advice. If you are researching past cases you have to apply to the Coroner in writing first before you can be given the information you are requesting.
Requests for more information
For more detailed information and/or copies of documents, you need to explain your relationship to the deceased and why you want the information.
Feedback and complaints
All complaints about the administration of the Dorset Coroner Service, or the conduct of individual coroners or their officers should first be raised by writing to the senior Coroner.
The Coroner cannot normally discuss cases which she is or has been involved with, but comments and suggestions on improving the Coroner Service are always welcome.