A year of extremes in 2022

It has been a year of extremes in Wales.

From the worst storm in a generation to sweltering heat, with the two hottest days ever recorded.

There were also political storms, strikes and Wales welcomed refugees from the war in Ukraine that left us all facing a cost of living crisis.

It has also been a year of “getting back to normal” as Covid rules were lifted and we began to deal with the aftermath of a global pandemic.

Prime ministers came and went while the rest of us were stopped from going anywhere by rail strikes, cancelled flights, traffic jams and closed bridges.

Our sports stars suffered both agony and ecstasy, from gold at the Commonwealth Games, a shock return in rugby and 64 years of hurt brought to a wonderful end at football’s World Cup that had us all humming a 40-year-old folk song.

And, of course, we bode farewell to a monarch and welcomed a new king and a new Prince and Princess of Wales.

So what made the news in the past 12 months?

While Covid heroes and sports stars celebrated recognition in the New Year’s honours, there was likely a few clearer heads than normal on New Year’s Day as coronavirus still loomed large.

Nightclubs were closed, we were still wearing face masks and we all had to choose just who would be be in our ‘group of six’ for any social gatherings with First Minister Mark Drakeford at odds with Boris Johnson – remember him?

Their conflict was a continual theme right to the prime minister’s departure in July.

For those stuck at home, a film about the campaign to save a Carmarthen cinema hit the small screen and leading Flintshire actor Jonathan Pryce would later receive a knighthood from the Queen.

While we battened down the hatches for Storm Eunice which caused widespread flooding and damage, Wales was shaken by three disturbing court cases.

And 27 people were charged and 18 later put behind bars over the riot that took place in Swansea’s Mayhill area the previous summer.

After we celebrated St David’s Day, the arrival of spring brought plenty of reasons for optimism.

The feeling of optimism failed to reach our national rugby team, beaten in Cardiff by Italy for the first time. Even worse was to come later in the year…

Lifting Covid restrictions sparked an Easter getaway in April, only for many holidaymakers to be grounded by airline staff shortages and a ferry link from Fishguard was also suspended after P&O sacked 800 staff.

Politics dominated the start of May as Wales went to the polls in local elections.

It would prove a disaster for the Tories who lost control of their only Welsh council – Monmouthshire – as Labour and Plaid Cymru made gains.

After more than two years, Wales had been the last part of the UK with Covid restrictions still in place – wearing masks in health settings – but we enjoyed “getting back to normal” as infection rates continued to decline.

Wrexham was named Wales’ seventh city to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, however, hopes of also becoming the UK’s next city of culture were dashed.

More than 200,000 fans flocked to Cardiff as Ed Sheeran played a series of gigs at the Principality Stadium, which sparked more travel problems.

It was a month of celebrations, sunshine and sadness.

The Queen’s jubilee gave us all an extra bank holiday and street parties while Swansea-singer Bonnie Tyler and footballer Gareth Bale were among those honoured.

Meanwhile Wales’ footballers ended an even longer wait, beating Ukraine 1-0 in Cardiff to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar.

Stereophonics and Sir Tom Jones rocked the Principality Stadium over two nights in Cardiff.

However, there was sadness at the passing of another icon when former Wales captain Phil Bennett, died aged 73.

Actor Michael Sheen best summed up a nation’s grief when he tweeted: “A part of Wales has died.”

Temperatures outside Westminster got even higher as Wales baked in the hottest days ever recorded – with the mercury hitting 37.1C in Hawarden, Flintshire.

However, the weather did mean a warm return for both the Royal Welsh Show and National Eisteddfod after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic.

But the month would also be dominated by the trial of ex-footballer and Wales manager Ryan Giggs.

There was no let up in the heatwave as drought in Pembrokeshire and parts of Carmarthenshire saw a first hosepipe ban in Wales for more than 30 years.

Liz Truss was appointed prime minister, though she resigned after just 45 days in office.

Of more significance was the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, who died at Balmoral aged 96 after reigning for 70 years.

Tony Paris, one of the three men wrongly convicted of the 1988 murder of Cardiff woman Lynette White in a notorious miscarriage of justice, died.

Welsh rugby lost another former captain and a legendary broadcaster when Eddie Butler died during a charity trek in Peru, aged 65.

While more revelations over the condition of the plane that crashed, killing footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson in 2019, emerged.

The month was one of very different discoveries, particularly along the west Wales coast.

There was another – more gruesome – discovery when the remains of more than 240 people were unearthed by archaeologists under a department store in Pembrokeshire.

The year’s third prime minister, Rishi Sunak, appointed Monmouth MP David TC Davies as Welsh secretary while police in Gwent unveiled their latest quirky crime-busting tool – three Tuk Tuks.

Gwent Police found itself being investigated after “abhorrent” messages between serving and retired officers emerged.

Racehorse owner Dai Walters and trainer Sam Thomas had lucky escapes from a helicopter crash near Ruthin.

November also saw football history made.

Despite the cost and concerns over Qatar’s human rights record, fans still travelled to watch Robert Page’s team play at the World Cup for the first time since 1958.

Even Hollywood actor – and Wrexham FC owner – Ryan Reynolds was speaking Welsh at awards ceremonies.

A quick freeze had us finally switching on the heating but also raised concerns in Wales’ most deprived areas as the cost of living crisis continued to hit households and businesses.

The death of seven-year-old Hanna Roap from Strep A sparked a public health fears among parents, though nurses went on strike for the first time in NHS history – swiftly followed by paramedics.

Christmas cards were late due to a postal strike while holiday travel was hit by industrial action by both rail workers and airport staff.

Wrexham FC’s Hollywood owners were given the freedom of the city and would be two of the few people who could afford to buy a house on a street in Abersoch – named the most expensive in Wales.

What does 2023 hold in store?