MICHAEL Rose retired as West Somerset Coroner on Tuesday after 48 years investigating unnatural deaths.

In the process he clocked up a never-to-be-beaten record of longevity and comforted numerous bereaved families with his kind, sympathetic manner.

AS Michael Rose relaxes with his family over the coming days, he’ll allow himself a wry smile as he casts his mind back to an Easter when his sleep was twice rudely interrupted.

When his phone rang at 1.30am one Good Friday, the locum on the other end gave him details of a patient who’d died of natural causes, something Coroners don’t handle.

Then on the Easter Sunday he was roused by Yeovil Hospital about a matter outside his jurisdiction.

“Neither of those would ever do it again,” smiles the normally impeccably mannered Mr Rose, with the implication that the callers received a dressing down.

Mr Rose, 82, who lives in Wellington with his wife Gillian, oversaw his final inquest at Shire Hall, Taunton, signing off with his trademark: “This is a very tragic case...I extend my deep sympathies to the family of the deceased.”

After becoming Deputy Coroner in 1967 and Coroner in 1984, he sat on 5,000 inquests and, as newly-appointed Coroners must now retire at 70, no-one will ever match his length of service.

In his teens, London-born Mr Rose joined the Royal Navy, leaving 56 years ago to embark on a career in the law, becoming senior partner at Clarke Willmott and Clarke.

He was articled in the West Devon Coroner’s office before West Somerset Coroner Peter Smith appointed him his deputy.

“There was a tendency to appoint lawyers who’d been in the services as it was felt they’d experienced death and were better able to cope,” said the father-of-three and grandfather-of-six.

“Over the years, one grows used to dealing with death, but I always have difficulty with the deaths of children.”

Mr Rose, a former rugby player and cricketer, kept pace with the job’s demands by staying active, skiing until last year and still swimming.

He said: “If one’s in good mental and physical health, experience is a great advantage.

“This allowed me to deal with my two most difficult cases arising from water poisoning at Camelford and the M5 accident near Taunton when seven people died.”

Coroners date back 800 years, when the most common cause of death was down to travelling, such as two people drowning while riding a horse over the River Tone at Wellington.

Nowadays safety measures have made travelling safer and health and safety has reduced fatal agricultural and building industry accidents.

Mr Rose made numerous recommendations at inquests, mainly about improving road junctions and general safety.

In Taunton he says he “shamed” Taunton Deane Council into installing fencing at the top of the Paul Street car park after several people jumped off, including two who fell in front of members of the public.

Coroning can be lonely – Mr Rose rarely got to speak to other Coroners – so he’s looking forward to spending time with his family.

He said: “It’s a great comfort to be in a close family and I’m looking forward to spending more time with them.

“Being a Coroner is a difficult task – I always try to put families first at inquests, to answer their queries.

“They’re usually not legally represented, so you try to put their case before the witnesses. But you must always be strictly impartial.

“Carrying out the job in this county, with its wonderful scenery and the kindness of its inhabitants have greatly assisted me.”