2026 ARCHIVE
What Went On
This page will shortly be updated with an overview of the day.
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Highlights
Please revisit this page or send in your festival highlights using the form above or the contact box on our website.
The Programme
09:00–09:30 Registration
09:30-09:35 Welcome
A short greeting in the Hall before the festival commences
09:35-10:25
10:45-11:35 Your Choice
Poetry Circle moderated by Kelsey Edwards
with Zoe Brooks, Karan Chambers and EP Jenkins
or 'Junkyard Storytelling' Writing Workshop with Julie Cohen
11:55-12:45
12:45-13:10 Lunch
13:30–13:40 BeaconFlash
Competition winners announced
13:40–14:30
14:50–15:30
16:00–16:50
17:20 Close
BeaconFlash Winners 2025/26
This year's short story competition saw an extremely high volume of submissions. We'd like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has sent their work in, as well as Creasey & Co for sponsoring the festival, and to Claire Steele and Jill Glenn from Constellations Press for very generously giving up their time to judge the competition. With that, we are delighted to announce that (after much consideration) the winners of the BeaconFlash short story competition are as follows:
RESULTS:
FIRST PRIZE
Evelyn and Her Lunatic Take the First Step by Kate Brookes
SECOND PRIZE
Edith's Conundrum by Jane Ricot
THIRD PRIZE
Lucky Four by Clare Elstow
RUNNERS-UP:
In no particular order...
o The Fourth King by Taria Karillion
o The Witness Circle by Melina Shaughnessy
o Battle in the Kitchen by Pat Mernagh
o Learn From Your Mistakes by Emily Boyle
o London Calling by Karen Silverthorne
Congratulations to all the winners and a massive thank you to everyone who submitted. Until next year!