Society honour for Wirral coroner

Oct 14 2009 by Liam Murphy, Heswall News

CHRISTOPHER Johnson has become the first coroner from Wirral to be made president of the Coroners’ Society of England and Wales.

Mr Johnson, 64, will hold the position for the next year, culminating in the society’s annual conference, which he will oversee.

A lifelong Tranmere Rovers supporter, he was appointed Wirral’s coroner in 1988, but has been involved in the Coroners Service for 46 years, joining as an Assistant Coroner’s Clerk in February, 1963.

Over the years, he has dealt with some high-profile cases, including the brutal murder of Alice Rye, a 74-year-old widow from Spital, and Paula Gilfoyle, who was eight months pregnant when she died from hanging in the garage at her home, and whose husband, Eddie, was later convicted of killing her.

Appointed Assistant Deputy Coroner for Wirral in 1979 Mr Johnson subsequently became Acting Deputy, Deputy, and Acting Coroner on retirement of his predecessor Rex Taylor.

Mr Johnson said workloads have also increased, with Wirral seeing the number of cases rising from 1,044 a year when Mr Johnson took on the role 21 years ago to between 1,700-1,800 annually, resulting in approximately 300 inquests.

Mr Johnson said his appointment as president was an honour. He said: “It’s the most prestigious position in the Coroners’ Society.”

In addition to his coroners duties, Mr Johnson is a senior partner of Rex Taylor & Meadows, Solicitors in West Kirby, having joined the practice on leaving school in February 1963, and also sits as a part-time Tribunal Judge of the Tribunals Judiciary dealing with Social Security Appeals, based in Liverpool.