A young member of Reading Beez – Barking and Dagenham Libraries’ flagship literacy and reading programme – took centre stage during the recent royal visit to Barking and Dagenham, showcasing how reading can unlock creativity, confidence and digital skills.
On 18 February 2026, Parth Tikarya, aged 9, who attends St. Margaret’s School in Barking, met Queen Camilla during Her Majesty’s visit to Barking Learning Centre (BLC) Community and Family Hub. Parth proudly shared how his love of reading, nurtured through Reading Beez and regular library use, inspired him to explore technology and create his own computer game.
Parth has been an enthusiastic member of Reading Beez since October 2023. Over that time, he has read nearly 100 books, spanning a wide range of genres including fiction and non‑fiction. Through the programme and his local library, Parth has built strong reading habits and a genuine love of books.
A recent visit to Barking Library, where a new collection of books on artificial intelligence was on display, sparked Parth’s curiosity about how technology works. After enjoying these books, he reserved many others on AI and computing and used them to teach himself the basics of programming, including Scratch and Python.
During the royal visit, Parth used his laptop to deliver a short presentation to Queen Camilla, explaining how he had designed a game using knowledge gained entirely from library books. He described how reading helped him understand coding concepts and turn ideas into something he could build and share.
Her Majesty also asked Parth about his favourite fiction, to which he responded with enthusiasm, naming Harry Potter and books by Roald Dahl as his top choices.
Parth’s story is a powerful example of the impact of Reading Beez, Barking and Dagenham Libraries’ flagship programme designed to develop confident, enthusiastic readers from an early age. By combining reading for pleasure with access to diverse collections and supportive library spaces, the programme helps children build skills that extend far beyond literacy.
His achievement also reflects the borough’s wider commitment during the National Year of Reading 2026, with the shared ambition:
“To make Barking and Dagenham a place where everyone reads, every day, in every space.”
As Barking and Dagenham continues to invest in libraries, literacy and community‑led learning, Parth’s journey highlights what is possible when young people are supported with access to books, encouragement and inspiring programmes like Reading Beez.