A prominent local businessman, baker, Alfred Francis Cowley (62), passed away on Saturday afternoon 19 August, in hospital in Auckland, New Zealand, his family have confirmed.

Alfred, born on 23 August, 1960, to the late Frank Cowley Jr., and Colleen Cowley, was the Managing Director of A. Cowley & Sons Ltd. He hailed from the villages of Fasi and Kolofo’ou, the main locations of his bakeries.

Alfred took over the business from his father Frank, running the biggest and oldest bakery in Tonga, which has been operating for almost 130 years.

The business was established in Nuku’alofa in 1893 by an Englishman, Alfred Cowley, the great-great-grandfather and namesake of Alfred.

Alfred enjoyed modernising the bakery and seeing its success. He was a philanthropist who supported many charitable causes. Most recently he was a donor to the Queen's Charity, which distributed food supplies to the needy in the aftermath of the Hunga Tonga -Hunga Ha'apai eruptions and tsunami. He made donations to primary schools in Tonga, such as food donations and provision of water tanks, and contributed to the education system and Tonga's economy. However, he did not want much recognition for his work, a close relative told Matangi Tonga.

He was involved in boards and organisations, outside of his business and the private sector. These included the Retirement Fund Board, the National Reserve Bank of Tonga Board, and the Tonga Telecommunications Board.

In recognition of his services, Alfred was awarded The Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga in the King's birthday honours in 2021.

He is survived by wife, Meletatafu Atiu Tuita Cowley, and six children: sons AJ, Francis, and William, and daughters Kate, Areta, and Vangana, and grandchildren.

The funeral service will be held at Mt Zion Church, Tonga, on Thursday at 1:00pm. The family said a funeral procession will proceed to their residential home at Touliki, tomorrow at 3:00pm.