Launceston College is celebrating the success of one talented student who has been named the winner of the Young Poets category at the 2025 Liskeard Library Simon Armitage Poetry Competition.

The prestigious event saw Rosie Kersley-Williamson’s poignant poem "Tidal Muse" recognised for its creativity and depth.

The competition, which followed the theme “We Are of This Place,” invited young poets between 11 and 17 to submit their original works. Rosie’s winning poem explored themes of nature, identity, and belonging, resonating deeply with the judges and the audience.

The prize giving event at Liskeard Library featured performances from Simon Armitage and Pascale Petit, with winners invited to present their works alongside these celebrated poets.

Rosie’s achievement was celebrated at Launceston College’s recent awards’ evening, where she was also presented with one of the school’s English Awards. Her poem "Tidal Muse" and her prose work have also earned her a spot in an upcoming anthology.

Commenting on the experience, Rosie Kersley-Williamson said: "I was delighted to find out that my poem 'Tidal Muse' was the Young Writer's winner of the 2025 Liskeard Library Simon Armitage poetry competition. I had the opportunity to perform my piece at the library alongside the other winners, local poet Pascale Petit and the amazing Poet Laureate Simon Armitage himself. I was thrilled to share my poem and thoroughly enjoyed being able to hear the other pieces of work and the stories behind them.”

Matthew Thompson, principal at Launceston College added: "We are incredibly proud of Rosie’s achievement. Her passion for writing and her ability to express her thoughts so eloquently through poetry is inspiring. Winning such a prestigious award at such a young age is a fantastic accomplishment, and we look forward to seeing her continue to develop as a writer.”