Ian Arrow, the senior coroner for Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon has announced he will be retiring on the 31 March 2023.
Ian has had a wide and varied coroner’s career. Starting as a partner in a rural solicitor’s practice where he was a deputy coroner, then in 2003 he was appointed coroner for Torbay and South Devon, where he was involved in the national pathology review.
He was subsequently appointed assistant coroner in Exeter and Greater Devon and in Cornwall, the coroner for the Isles of Scilly in 2006 and deputy coroner in Plymouth the same year. In 2016 the positions were merged and Ian became the senior coroner for Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon.
From 2019 - 2021 Ian was the president of the Coroner’s Society of England and Wales, taking a keen interest in child deaths through working with the national child death database. Recently he oversaw the inquest for the tragic shootings in Keyham.
Commenting on his retirement, Ian said: “I took early phased retirement in December 2022 to enable me to reduce the rigours of the office upon me and in due course allow me to work part time, sharing my experience and expertise as and when requested across the country. It has been an honour and privilege to have been the senior coroner for the coroner’s jurisdiction of Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon.”
Andy Ralphs, Strategic Director for Customer and Corporate Services for Plymouth City Council, added: “Ian has provided dedicated service to the City and Torbay and South Devon and most recently heard the inquest for Keyham. His professionalism and dedication has been first rate and we all wish him well for the future”.
From the 1 April Philip Spinney, HM Senior Coroner for Exeter will become the acting senior coroner for Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon.