Six young poets picked to open Latitude Festival

Six young poets from across the East of England have had their work chosen to officially open the 20th Latitude Festival.

It follows a competition run by the BBC and Latitude for seven to 11-year-olds who live or go to school in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire or Suffolk.

Judges chose six finalists, one from each BBC local radio area, who have been invited to read their work, on the theme of generations, on the floating Waterfront Stage at Henham Park in July. An overall winner will be announced during the festival.

Poet and judge Luke Wright said: "Because I'm the poet, they get me to read them all out when we are judging, and I remember one I actually welled up and my voice cracked on the final line... that's amazing for a primary school kid to achieve."

Sofia, the Cambridgeshire finalist, wrote about the difference in telephones between her, her mother and her grandmother.

She said: "It's about how most people these days really want new technology and think their life depends on it."

Connie, the Suffolk finalist, compared the musical influences of different generations from "boomers" to "gen-Alpha".

"I'm very excited, but also a little bit nervous," she said about performing on stage.

Austin, the Northampton finalist, explored the calibre of his father's jokes.

"My nanny and grampy heard about it on the radio, and said I should enter my poem," he said. "I felt really excited as I didn't think I'd get this far with that poem."

The finalist for BBC Three Counties Radio is Alexia, whose poem covered her experience of being adopted.

"I feel love that will embrace me forever," she wrote about her new family, before imagining herself as a parent.

"On to make my dreams come true, with furry friends, shelves of books, and my own children to care for.... all the love I have experienced, I can now share with them."

The finalist for Norfolk, Lizzy, was inspired by Shakespeare's seven ages of man for her poem.

She describes the grandparent age as "generation enjoyer" adding she likes to read to them and they read to her.

And in Essex, Esme wrote about a piano, kept in the family with different generations enjoying playing together.

"I might want to be a writer or publish a book," she said in response to being asked about her future career ideas.

Melvin Benn, Latitude founder and managing director, said: "Twenty years ago, Latitude gave poetry its own stage because we believed it deserved one.

"These young poets are the clearest possible reminder of why that decision was right."

"Every year, this competition surprises me. This year it floored me.

"Having these exceptional voices open our 20th anniversary festival feels exactly right."

The Latitude Festival is at Henham Park, Suffolk 23-26 July.

The BBC will have live programmes and coverage across the weekend.

You can hear all the poems in full on Upload with Rob Jelly.

Do you have a story suggestion for Suffolk? Contact us below.

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