We could understand why someone might take a look at the world and wonder what on earth 2022 was thinking: we've done it ourselves. However, even though many people will be relieved to see the back of it, 2022 was about more than just war, pollution, rising prices and a world creaking under the weight of 8 billion people.
There were positive moments in 2022, uplifting moments, funny moments. There were things worth celebrating as well as things to be lamented. There were moments that combined the good with the sad.
The real world
2022 marked the passing of Queen Elizabeth II after a reign of more than 70 years - the longest tenure of any British monarch and the longest verified reign of any queen in the world's long history. While the country was sad to lose a figure who had been there for the whole of most people's lives, people took the opportunity to celebrate her contributions and achievements.
Another towering figure - in more than one sense - left us in 2022. Scottish rugby legend and motor neurone disease campaigner Doddie Weir finally succumbed to his illness in November. Although Doddie didn't see a cure in his lifetime, he contributed immeasurably to the mission to raise both awareness of MND and funds to pay for improved treatment and support for sufferers. Fellow rugby player and MND sufferer/campaigner Rob Burrow, and Rob's teammate and friend, the superhuman fundraiser Kevin Sinfield, both cited Doddie as a huge source of inspiration.
It's coming home. It's coming home… It's home!
Earlier in the year we did enjoy some happy tidings. The advent of effective vaccines and slightly less dangerous strains of Covid meant that restrictions could be eased and life could edge just a little closer to normal. People were able to mix more freely and to enjoy entertainment and sports in shared spaces again. And we certainly enjoyed our sport.
The 2022 UEFA European Women's Football Championship in July saw England's women beat all comers in a series of outstanding performances by an outstanding team. The country got a major trophy, a whole team of new heroes and a measure of dignity back. Thank you, Lionesses; we really needed that.
Happy birthday to us
Regtransfers had more cause for celebration in 2022. You'd never have believed it to look at our youthful little faces, but our company marked its 40th year in business.
The team looked back over the years and chatted amongst ourselves about the length of time some of us have been here. That led to an article exploring the Regtransfers experience from the team's point of view, what it means to us and why we stay. If you didn't read it first time round, please take a look.
The world of personal number plates
As always, this year saw two scheduled registration releases, the 22 plates and the 72s.
Number plate auctions around the world enjoyed a seemingly undiminished level of activity and people's appetite for plates was proven as insatiable as ever.
In UAE, charity auctions produced two new entries into the top 10 chart of the world's priciest plates. Dubai number AA 8 and Abu Dhabi number 2 achieved £7.5 million and £5 million respectively, positioning them as the second and fifth most expensive private plates ever sold.
While the UK didn't go to quite such extravagant lengths, our domestic DVLA auctions performed well and, again, the market seemed undeterred by life's little complications. The top auction performers this year included PAT 3K (£100,245), 75 O (£89,973), PAK 157N (£82,140), 66 O (£81,113), 53 NGH (£78,417). For more about the plates that sold in the 2022 auctions, visit the regular auction reports in our blog.
No section headed "The World of Personal Number Plates" would be complete without mentioning our fantastic magazine of that name. The first issue rolled off the presses back in 2003 and was something of an expensive and risky experiment. Would anyone read it? Could we even give it away? The answer to both questions was a resounding "Yes!".
This year saw the publication of our 55th, full-colour, content-packed, professionally produced issue. The World of Personal Number Plates has gone from strength to strength, and little did we know, back in 2003, that its circulation would reach the hundreds of thousands.
We are very proud to have published many exclusive interviews and photographs chronicling our meetings with celebs and top business people. We have also shared countless customer stories and photos illustrating just how much British people love their personal plates.
Finally, the close of 2022 brings the end of an era. After serving a 37-year sentence tenure with Regtransfers, our company secretary, Paul Brown, is retiring. Paul, brother of our founder and managing director, Tony Brown, is very much a part of the fabric of Regtransfers and it is difficult to imagine how things will be without him. Still, he has been well-behaved, for the most part, and he has earned his freedom. We hope you will join us in wishing him a long and happy retirement.
Well, there we have it: 2022. Many things we will remember for a very long time and some we may be more eager to forget. However we view it, it is done. All we can say to 2023 is bring it on!
Happy New Year, everyone.
