On our website you will find all the regular features of our ‘old friend’ The Beacon. There are stories, reports on events, church details, items for sale, news from our primary school, a calendar of what is going on including what usually goes on and what to look forward to, Parish Council information and so much more. I hope you will find it all just as it has always been.
So, get the kettle on, settle comfortably and enjoy...
Situated on the north eastern edge of Dartmoor National Park lies our beacon. Also known as Cosdon, Cawsand, Cosdonne or even Higa de Cossdonne. This beacon is one of the highest points of Dartmoor and on a clear day it is possible to see the English Channel and the Bristol Channel.
Snuggled below are the four villages served by The BEACON. Belstone, South Tawton, South Zeal and Sticklepath.
Despite being four villages, each with a distinct personality, we are actively one community; supportive and caring, competitive and sociable, friendly and convivial.
When The Beacon was first printed in the early 1980s it superseded and had an element of a parish magazine. This happened when the parish of Belstone with Sticklepath and the parish of South Tawton with South Zeal combined becoming a single Benefice with one incumbent, John Ellis. The editor was Patrick Shaw.
The Beacon has developed into a community magazine its driving force being to keep friends and neighbours informed and involved in all that happens within the area. Although primarily the four villages we cannot ignore Okehampton and even Throwleigh, Chagford and a few places further.
Bound copies of all issues of The Beacon have a special place within the village archive housed in Victory Hall, South Zeal and accessible to all.
Today we have a committee of 10 volunteers led by The Editor who compiles the magazine, supported by representatives from the villages who also take on the responsibilities of Treasurer, Distribution Coordinator, Advertising Manager and Website Manager.
The magazine content is reliant on regular contributors and guests.
Our revenue comes from local advertising and sales/subscriptions of the paper copy, which covers the cost of printing.
Each year we produce in The Beacon a picture extra which includes a selection of photos from the past year and always raises a laugh or two.
You can email material to theeditorbeacon@gmail.com
or contact anyone on the committee (see inside back cover of recent issue).
Early each year the annual Directory of what to do and who to contact is published with The Beacon magazine, spending the year to come on many a notice board. Providing contact information for local organisations and groups, places, Parish Councils, trusts and charities in the Devon villages of Belstone, South Tawton, South Zeal and Sticklepath.
With little space in the printed version other than a name and contact, the expanded directory on our website now allows for infinite space and images for all groups and and organisations locally.
Information can be altered or added to at any time, including groups not listed in the Directory, by contacting info.thebeacononline@gmail.com