A lot has happened throughout 2023 - and over the next week or so we'll be looking back at some of the stories which made our front pages each month.

In January, we covered tributes to several much-loved and highly respected people.

This included former Wrexham teacher and stalwart of the education system Valmai Wyn Jones.

The Leader: She died peacefully on January 4 after a long battle with ill health, aged 81.

Just a couple of days later, tributes were paid to Colin William Hale, who was known to many for his family-run jewellery business in Wrexham city centre, PW Hale.

At aged 83, Colin died on January 5, following a long battle with dementia.

Also in Wrexham, tributes were paid to Patricia Constance Davies, who died peacefully at her home in The Homestead, on Christmas Eve, aged 76.

The Leader: Family, friends and former colleagues paid their respects to former Leader photographer Mike Roberts, of Clayton Road, Mold.

He died on January 6 at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, aged 88.

Patricia Constance Davies, died peacefully at her home in The Homestead, on Christmas Eve, aged 76.

Mother-of-four Pat was known by many across the region for the business Pat’s Coaches, which she set up in 1976 with then husband David Davies.

The Leader:

An MP helping the family of murdered mum Jade Ward was preparing to take their proposals for parental responsibility legislation changes to the Government.

We looked at the remarkable story of Wrexham man Carl Roberts, from Wrexham, who got into a frozen lake to save a dog which had fallen in.

Jo Jo the schnauzer fell in the water at Acton Park while chasing seagulls.
Afterwards, Carl said other than numb fingertips, he was "absolutely fine."

The Leader:

In mid-January, viewers of Flintshire Council’s online cabinet meeting were stunned when it was interrupted by an apparent sex act by a member of the public.

The meeting was then brought to an abrupt halt within seconds.

We looked at the impact of a "big freeze" on schools, with more than 20 in Flintshire closed to coincide with a Met Office weather warning, as well as businesses.

And we reported how Ryan Reynolds described being involved in the takeover of Wrexham AFC as the ‘greatest experience’ of his life.