A seven-year-old Minecraft enthusiast has triumphed in a prestigious children’s poetry competition.
Myles, from Wymondham, Norfolk, captured the judges’ hearts with his poem, “A Friend Like Steve,” earning him a coveted spot to perform his work on stage at this year’s Latitude Festival in Henham Park, Suffolk on July 24th.
Judge and acclaimed poet Luke Wright praised Myles’s work, stating, “I admire his comfort level using the language of Minecraft. Writing about what you love is key to excellence, and that’s precisely what Myles has achieved.”
The competition, a partnership with the BBC, was open to children aged seven to eleven in Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire.
Myles’s mother, Charlotte, expressed immense pride, commenting, “It turned out beautifully. His dad heard about the competition on the radio and mentioned it to Myles—who was likely playing Minecraft at the time!” she added with a laugh, “When he’s not playing Minecraft, he’s wearing Minecraft merchandise or talking about it; he’s quite the fan.”
Myles himself revealed he dedicated two days to crafting his winning poem.
Initially launched in 2024 as a collaboration with BBC Radio Suffolk and limited to Suffolk residents, the competition expanded this year to encompass three counties.
Melvin Benn, founder of the Latitude Festival, lauded the competition’s significance, stating, “Myles’s poem is delightful and showcases the competition’s importance. At seven, he’s taken the world of Minecraft—so relevant to his generation—and transformed it into a beautiful exploration of friendship and shared adventures. This embodies Latitude’s core mission: celebrating creativity in all forms and providing a platform for emerging talent.”
This year’s festival will feature a greater presence from the BBC Music Introducing teams from Suffolk and Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire and Essex, with 21 local acts performing on the Lavish Lounge stage.
Poems centered on the theme of friendship were evaluated by BBC presenters Sarah Lilley and Louise Hulland, alongside poet Luke Wright and Latitude arts curator Kirsty Taylor.
Two runners-up were also selected and invited to share their works alongside the winner at the festival.
Zara, 11, from Gorleston, contributed “What Can I Do?”, a poem about a school friend moving away to Peterborough. Eleven-year-old Eleanor from Cromer penned “Someone,” exploring the feelings of lacking a close friend.
BBC Radio Suffolk presenter Sarah Lilley commented, “This year’s entries showcased a wide spectrum of emotions, reflecting maturity in exploring friendships, the role of being a friend, and the experience of missing or lacking friends. All entries were impressive, but our finalists are exceptional.”
Charlotte Spackman, BBC Suffolk executive producer, added, “Providing young people from our region with this incredible opportunity to perform at Latitude is truly special. Nurturing, developing, and sharing the narratives of East Anglia’s immense talent is a key part of the BBC’s commitment to creativity.”
The Latitude Festival runs from July 24th to 27th, 2025, at Henham Park, Suffolk, featuring headliners Sting, Snow Patrol, and Fatboy Slim.
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