Laureate honour for poet Eloise Unerman (19)

Nineteen-year-old Eloise Unerman, from Goldthorpe, has been named Poet Laureate for Barnsley for the next three years.

A member of Rotherham Young Writers, she follows in the footsteps of Ian McMillan, who has worked to highlight the great and the good of the borough.

Eloise, who takes up the reins on April 1, said: “I am so honoured to be offered the role of Barnsley’s Poet Laureate so early in my career and be given the chance to get involved in some of the exciting things coming up. 

“I’m looking forward to following in Ian MacMillan's footsteps and hope to be able to give something back to the wonderful town I grew up in.”

Eloise is a member of Rotherham Young Writers and won the Cuckoo Young Writers Award in 2017.

She will be officially welcomed to her post by Ian at a special poetry event at 5.30pm next Monday at Experience Barnsley.

Barnsley’s Poet Laureate was created as part of the Hear My Voice initiative, a three-year project which aims to promote poetry and literature to the borough.

Cllr Roy Miller, Barnsley Council’s cabinet spokesperson for place said: “We are excited that such a talented and exciting new writer has taken over the position of Barnsley’s Poet Laureate.  

“Her work will connect with people of all ages and shine a spotlight on the fantastic things happening in the borough.  

“We hope this role will support Eloise and catapult her to great things in her career.  

“We would also like to thank Ian MacMillan for his dedication and support over the past three years, which has been a real triumph for Barnsley.”

Email [email protected] to book a place at Monday’s event.