Minecraft fan wins festival poetry competition

A seven-year-old Minecraft fan has a won a festival poetry competition for children.

Myles, from Wymondham, Norfolk, wrote A Friend Like Steve, which he will get to perform on stage to open this year's Latitude festival at Henham Park, Suffolk, on 24 July.

Judge and poet Luke Wright said: "I love the fact he chose the language he feels comfortable with, the language of Minecraft. The best thing to do is write about something you love, which is why this is so excellent."

The competition was run in partnership with the BBC, and open to seven to 11-year-olds in Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.

Myles' mother, Charlotte, said: "I'm so proud of him, it came out beautifully.

"Myles' dad listens to the radio, so he heard about the competition and mentioned it to Myles - who was probably playing Minecraft at the time!

"If he's not playing it, he's wearing it or talking about it.. he's quite the fanatic."

Myles said he worked on the poem for two days.

The competition began for the 2024 festival as a collaboration with BBC Radio Suffolk, and was open just to young people who lived or went to school in Suffolk.

It expanded to cover three counties for this year's festival.

Melvin Benn, founder of the Latitude Festival, said: "Myles' poem is delightful and shows why this competition is so important.

"At just seven years old, he's taken the world of Minecraft, something that truly speaks to his generation, and turned it into a beautiful exploration of friendship and shared adventure.

"This is exactly what Latitude is all about: celebrating creativity in all its forms, giving a platform to new voices."

This year will also see a bigger input from the BBC Music Introducing teams which cover Suffolk and Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire and Essex, with 21 local acts performing on the Lavish Lounge stage.

Poems on the theme of friendship were judged by BBC presenters Sarah Lilley and Louise Hulland, along with poet Luke Wright and Latitude arts curator Kirsty Taylor.

Two runners up were also chosen and invited to read their pieces at the festival alongside the winner.

Zara, 11, from Gorleston, wrote What Can I Do? telling the story of her school friend moving away to Peterborough.

"Two hours is far too long, it might as well be two years," she wrote.

Eleanor, 11, from Cromer, wrote Someone, a poem that explored how it felt to be without a special friend.

"Friends are the family you choose, but I've not yet been found," Eleanor wrote.

BBC Radio Suffolk presenter Sarah Lilley said: "The entries this year took the judges on a rollercoaster of emotions, with some of the pieces showing real maturity about different aspects of having friends, being a friend and sometimes, missing or not having friends.

"I was so impressed with all of them, but our three finalists are exceptional."

Charlotte Spackman, BBC Suffolk executive producer said: "To be able to give young people from our region such an amazing opportunity to take to the stage at Latitude is really special.

"Creativity is one of the BBC's core values, and it is essential we play our part in nurturing, developing and sharing the stories of the huge talent we have in the East."

• Watch last year's winner, 11 year old Anna, perform via BBC Suffolk's Facebook page

The Latitude Festival is 24 - 27 July 2025 at Henham Park, Suffolk, with Sting, Snow Patrol and Fatboy Slim headlining.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.