Beacon Magazine

A project to produce 10,000 poppies for a Remembrance Day Display in Ryde took a huge leap forward last weekend.

A Blue Peter book award winner and the author of the Amelia Fang book series are among the names announced for next year's Isle of Wight Story Festival.

Help Mountbatten mark its anniversary with a special Afternoon Tea and live music, celebrating 45 years of hospice care.

Thousands of well-wishers from across the world have helped make an Isle of Wight care home resident's 105th birthday one to remember.

An Isle of Wight Scout is helping to keep people's spirits up as they wait for up to 24 hours to pay tribute to the Queen.

Plans are said to be on track for Ryde's new Dotto Train.

Two entrepreneurial mums from Cowes have launched an innovative and healthy new brand to benefit both adults and children.

The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will take place at 11am on Monday September 19 at Westminster Abbey, it has been announced.

Her majesty, the Queen, has died at the age of 96.

Local energy experts The Footprint Trust have welcomed the new Prime Minister’s energy package, which freezes the price cap at £2,500, rather than the proposed rise to £3,549.

A typical household will pay no more than £2,500 annually for its gas and electricity bills from the start of October, Prime Minister Liz Truss has announced.

There's just a few tickets remaining for next week's inaugural Isle of Wight Book Awards.

As Cowes Week gets underway, here's a taster of what to expect over the coming week.

"Things are better, but a lot more still needs to be done" to take potentially malignant moles seriously, according to an Isle of Wight mother, who lost her daughter to skin cancer in 2020.

The Isle of Wight's Rhythmtree Festival is back at a new location from today (Friday).

Ryde Town Council and Ryde Library have announced a brand new collaboration to bring free reading to Ryde beaches.

The Isle of Wight's famous Billingham Manor is up for sale for £3.95 million.

Isle of Wight Truck driver, Jacob Benger-Pereira is planning to row from New York to the UK – retracing an iconic 3,200 mile ocean crossing from 1896 – in aid of two young people's mental health charities.

With the UK's music festival season rapidly hurtling towards us, there are now more choices than ever for the weekend reveller.

The owners of a holiday cottage in Bonchurch believe they’ve uncovered the inspiration behind the infamous Charles Dickens character, Miss Havisham.

Pumpkins aren't just for decoration. They're an incredibly versatile fruit — which make the most delicious fries.

Late September/early October is the perfect time to start picking sloe berries and to get a delicious batch of Sloe Gin underway for Christmas.

One of our favourite and most inspirational chefs goes back to basics with a treat that appeals to adults and kids in equal measure.

With summer in full swing, Gillian Reay-Young shares this recipe for Gin and Tonic Sorbet to enjoy in the sun.

The classic twist on the quintessential pavlova gets reimagined once again in this mouth-watering traybake by Adele Trathan.

Got some apples? Feeling creative? Impress your nearest and dearest while expressing your artistic side, writes Jo Grey.

Make the most of summers berries with this delectable recipe by Adele Trathan, perfect with a dollop of fresh cream or ice cream!

Schools are now open, so we've brought you one of our favourite lunchbox recipes, enjoyed by kids and grown ups — simple Lunchbox Lasagnes!

Put a little zing in your hot cross buns with Adele Trathan’s twist on an age-old recipe

This warming and tasty recipe by Adele Trathan, puts all the ingredients into one pan, making it simple and easy for all the family to enjoy

A slice of this Blueberry and Lime Loaf with a cup of tea is the dream.

Costa Coffee, is introducing a selection of delicious sweet and savoury items to its existing menu. Available to purchase from Costa Coffee stores nationwide from Thursday 6th May, these new additions are the perfect choice for any picnic in the park.

Serve up delicious Pizza Pinwheels at home this Firework Night, to remember remember the 5th of November in your own way. We may not be out at our favourite firework displays as usual, but we can certainly put on a spread to enjoy with the family, starting with these delicious bitesize treats. Makes 16 pinwheels Takes 25 mins to cook and prepare

Got into baking sourdough bread during lockdown? Mix it up with this tasty pretzel recipe, from former Great British Bake Off finalist James Morton. Deliciously salty and perfectly chewy, these sourdough pretzels are sure to please.

This mouth-watering barbecue recipe is perfect for spring in the garden!

This sweet Easter Bread is a traditional recipe baked in Italy and Greece, which tastes similar to brioche.

Arguably one of the best things about the Easter season is enjoying warm hot cross buns, slathered in butter. So we've brought you a tasty recipe for cranberry and orange flavoured buns to bake at home. After all, we've all become pretty good at baking from scratch over the past year!

Author of the new Plant Based Cookbook, Brad Roe, shares his delicious recipe for Pine Nut Cornbread with Sweet Potato Puree, Sundried Tomato Cream and Crispy Pak Choi.

When it's cold and wet outside, we love to brighten a day stuck indoors with a few home comforts. How about these home-made Pork and Cranberry Sausage Rolls, served fresh from the oven.

Traditional pancakes with lemon and sugar are always a winner, but what about something a little different this year? We love thick, fluffy pancakes with fried banana and bacon, drizzled in maple syrup. Sounds so wrong, but we think it's so right!

Back in 1981 when Bergerac first came to BBC TV, it was no surprise when John Nettles received sack loads of fan mail. I, like millions of other men, rather fell for the more rubenesque charms of the Bureau receptionist Charlotte, played by the gorgeous Annette Badland.

There are days in your life that you will never forget. One of mine was September 26th, 2006, when I met up again with Jane McDonald. Her welcoming hug and comforting words were just what I needed

Fifty one years after I first saw Bill Wyman appearing at a Rolling Stones concert at Ryde Pavilion, I finally managed to meet him.

Back in 2001 I took an exciting 21 hour day trip to Weatherfield. I was expecting to undertake a couple of interviews with two of Coronation Street’s lesser known characters. Thankfully, it didn’t go to plan. Once the two interviews were completed and the press office girls had left, I was told to sit tight for a few minutes and see who might come in. Over the next hour, six of the most famous faces in Britain came in and were all eager to chat.

Saturday June 30th, 2012, was rather special in my 47 year career as a showbiz writer and broadcaster. I still call it my Sheridan Smith day.

Back in 1988, John Hannam interviewed Barbara Windsor – and this was long before Albert Square.

When Shaun Williamson was filling shelves in a Maidstone supermarket his ambition was to be like Richard Burton. Eventually, via Pontins in Wootton, 1986, he became Barry Evans, who for eight years was one of EastEnders’ most popular characters.

Life has been wonderfully unpredictable for Scottish actor Joe McFadden. Before winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, he’d been a rock star in Sex, Chips & Rock ‘n’ Roll, cast as maverick cop, Joe Mason in Heartbeat and surgeon Raf di Lucca in Holby City.

Gwen Taylor is one of those actors known for a wide variety of names — Amy Pearce from Duty Free, Barbara Liversidge in Barbara, Heartbeat’s Peggy Armstrong, Rita Simcock from A Bit Of A Do or even murderer, Anne Foster, from Coronation Street.

Over the years, top actors like Celia Imrie, Benedict Cumberbatch, Penelope Keith and Geoffrey Hughes have all fallen in love with the Island. The latest to join them is David Calder, whose credits include The World Is Not Enough, The Hatton Garden Job and The Lady In The Van.

During the final ten days before the lockdown, I’d been lucky enough to have pre-arranged five interviews. It was in Guildford on a very wet and miserable March day. Would she be like Raquel in Only Fools And Horses or Mrs Maguire in Grantchester?

John caught up with the star of stage and screen, who talks of recent film projects and fond memories of when the Island was her home.

Famous radio DJ Annie Nightingale has helped numerous popstars enhance their careers by playing their music.

On July 7th, completely out of the blue, I received an unexpected email from a guy called Neil Chandler, the venue and artistic director of the Fairfield Halls in Croydon, which was re-opening following a £42 million redevelopment.

Helen George has millions of fans as Trixie Franklin in hit television series, Call The Midwife. She's just been seen in the show's Christmas Special and is all set to appear later this year in the ninth series.

Back on Sunday, February 17th 1991, I had the thrill of having the Beverley Sisters live on IW Radio's John Hannam Meets. At the end of their slot, I asked them to choose a record by their favourite current singer. In total harmony, they all said Marti Pellow and predicted a long and successful career for him. At that time he was the lead singer of Wet Wet Wet. How right they were.

This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses the changing seasons, and why he ventures out into his garden in any weather.

There’s a secret universe right underneath our feet. Welcome to the magical, wonderful world of soil, writes Flo Whitaker.

If you’re looking for easygoing, heat-tolerant plants with a long-flowering season, (and who isn’t?) you can do no better than salvias, writes Flo Whitaker

Towards the end of August, on the lawns of the Isle of Wight an inconspicuous species of wild orchid, the last British orchid of the season, appears for just a few weeks, heralding the end of the summer.

Dinosaurs ate them, and the Victorians obsessed about them; ferns are astonishing survivors from the prehistoric world and still have the power to enchant us, writes Flo Whitaker.

Property, equity and retirement can be a complex topic, so we asked Peter d’Aguilar to shed a little light on some of the options currently available

In the UK right now the average house price is estimated at just over £245,000 (as of February 2021). But that figure obviously varies from region to region. So if you're a first-time buyer or looking to move to pastures new, which areas should you be looking at to get the best value for your money?

Nothing says ‘summer’ more than home-picked fruit. Raspberries are easy to grow — and now’s the perfect time to plant them, writes Flo Whitaker.

It’s all go on the veg patch this month. Sow hardy winter greens and plant garlic for a tasty crop later in the year.

There’s a lot more to holly than spiky green leaves and a few red berries. Peter Erridge explains all things historical and prickly.

January doesn’t have to be gloomy after the Christmas decorations come down, it can be the ideal time to revamp the home as Adele Trathan explains.

The euonymus genus contains over 150 varieties in the form of shrubs and trees, so there should be one type available to brighten every garden throughout the year.

In today’s climate, home offices have never been more desirable. We've got this advice for designing your own stylish workspace

Versatile and long-lived, no plants give better fiery autumnal colours than acers.

It’s all go on the veg patch this month. Sow hardy winter greens and plant onions for a tasty crop next year.

The right window dressing can transform the look and feel of a room without the need for a complete interior revamp. Take inspiration from the latest trends to redesign your window space,

Coming in every shade from darkest inky purple to purest white, no summer garden is complete without the extraordinary blooms of Agapanthus.

Hedging is an important feature in many domestic and agricultural settings, designating boundary, providing habitat for wildlife and privacy for humans, and actually being a thing of beauty. Peter Erridge tells us more

Add plenty of extra space to your home, with the addition of a light-filled garden room, conservatory or orangerie.

Were you gifted a houseplant at Christmas? Wondering what to do with it now? Hippeastrum (amaryllis) are extraordinary plants. Their huge bulbs can develop flowering spikes 60cms tall within six weeks. They are often sold as a kit, complete with flowerpot and compost.

A Miniature Schnauzer and his owner from Cowes are prize winners after entering a national award celebrating the powerful bond between dogs and their humans.

The UK’s biggest citizen science project has been recording the winners and losers in the garden bird world for over four decades with the help of half a million people, and now the RSPB is counting on Island residents to join in too.

A new review outlining the impact of road mortality on native European hedgehogs has been published in the online scientific journal Animals.

​​​​​​​Wightlink’s oyster nurseries are already proving a haven for rare marine wildlife.

Wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is, for the first time, running its Living with Mammals survey during autumn, from Monday 31st August until Sunday 29th November.

A flock of wheeling long-tailed tits capture this author's imagination as she takes a stroll in the countryside

Sparrowhawks are now fairly common throughout the country and more of us can enjoy the breathtaking sight of these spectacular, small birds of prey.

Isle of Wight based professional theatre company Theatre Reviva! is opening its new immersive, touring production in the Apollo — and it's in need of two additional actors.

This circular walk along the River Medina can be joined at any point along the route.

Strictly Come Dancing finalist and much loved former EastEnders star, Maisie Smith, will make her musical theatre debut later this month, as she co-stars in the UK tour of Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical — alongside her former Strictly dance partner, Kevin Clifton.

With current restrictions in place, it may be more difficult to get out trick and treating with the family this year. So make sure you get on the sofa with the blankets ready to hide behind, and check out these classic shows and films as the haunting hour approaches...

As we head into the warmest months of the year, why not enjoy a stroll along the beautiful Isle of Wight coast.

Ever considered Model Engineering as a hobby? Well, now's your chance to find out what it's all about!

Here's our pick of fantastic fiction to ease you through the summer sun.

Every Thursday evening, from 6pm-9.30pm, join the Tapnell Farm Park team for The Island’s Biggest Kids’ Party!

This month we're enjoying the Niton to Newchurch section of The River Yar walk, courtesy of Island Rivers.

Here are the solutions to the Puzzle Page problems in the March edition of the magazine – how well did you do?

Join The Wight Strollers as they journey to London Town with Dick Whittington and his cat, in a fun-packed tale full of laughter, live music, and panto magic!

A night of live music at Shanklin Theatre tonight (Sunday) will pay homage to legendary Isle of Wight journalist and broadcaster, John Hannam.

Here are the solutions to the Puzzle Page problems in the February edition of the magazine – how well did you do?

The singer makes her film debut in the upcoming Christmas movie Boxing Day, which was written and directed by her co-star Aml Ameen.

Speedway is back at Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde.

A good read for every occasion.

Here are the solutions to the Puzzle Page problems in the September edition of the magazine – how well did you do?

Based on the incredible true story of Dream Alliance, starring Toni Collette and Damian Lewis.

It will star Paddy Considine and Matt Smith.

Fancy a movie night? How about one of these popular new releases, available to watch via most streaming services.

Back for another year, we've got a family pass for four to this spooktacular event this October half term...

By the world's best independent winemakers, delivered to your door, we've got an amazing deal for Hidden members to enjoy! Get £75 off on your first case of Naked Wines now...

All of these celebrities or historical figures have lived on the Island at some point in their lives, but do you know who all of them are?

With the summer in full swing, it's a great time to explore the stunning coastline the UK has to offer! Think you can guess all of these shady spots - some are harder than you think...

Been to or planning to head to a festival this summer? Get yourself in the mood with some of these famous throwbacks!