Samantha Goward appointed as new senior coroner for Norfolk taking over from Jacqueline Lake who retires in June

A new senior coroner for Norfolk is set to take over the role later this year as Jacqueline Lake retires.

Samantha Goward, who is currently an area coroner for Norfolk, has been appointed to the position, succeeding Mrs Lake, who is retiring in June after more than a decade of service.

Mrs Lake has guided the service through a number of changes since her appointment in September 2013, including relocations and the Covid-19 pandemic.

She said: “I have always kept the bereaved at the heart of the process. It has been an honour to serve in this role, navigating challenging times and working with a wonderful and diligent team.

“While I am moving on, the experience of working with the Coroner’s Court will stay with me.”

Mrs Goward, who was born and raised in Norfolk, will take over as senior coroner on July 1.

She said: “Jacqueline has put families and community at the heart of the service, and I intend to continue this legacy.

“We meet people at one of the most difficult times of their lives and our team will continue to provide a dedicated service for our county, which meets the needs of those families who come in to contact with us.”

Mrs Goward qualified as a solicitor in 2001 and has more than 22 years of experience in healthcare law.

She first became an assistant coroner in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough before making the move to full-time work as a coroner in Norfolk - having joined as an assistant coroner in 2022.

Reporting by Phoebe Cornell