The Harker family are sad to announce the passing of Ron Harker on Wednesday 10th September 2025. Ron was widely respected in the gardening industry, most notably as founder and former owner of Tong Garden Centre near Bradford.

Ron pictured with late wife Nita and sons Antony and Stuart.

Ron was an extremely hard-working man, whose career started as a milkman. Ron and late wife Nita then embarked on an entrepreneurial journey, starting a poultry processing business which they ran as a family business.

Ron and Nita had dreams to build a garden centre which ultimately happened in 1984.  From the humble beginnings of a strawberry field in Tong Village, Tong Garden Centre was founded and was one of few garden centres in existence at that time.

By the mid 1990’s Ron and family had developed Tong Garden Centre into one of the leading garden centres in the UK. Ron’s work ethic and dedication was also passed down to his two sons Antony & Stuart, who were involved from a young age in running the poultry business and the garden centre.

Ron’s resilience was then tested severely in 1999 with the death of wife and mum Nita, which came weeks after a fire that destroyed Tong Garden Centre. 

The Harker family rallied and re-built the business, reaffirming its importance in the local area and in the industry. In 2015 Ron sold Tong Garden Centre, a business that was built from his foresight to develop a strawberry field into a major garden centre. 

In the last few weeks of his life Ron returned to Tong Garden Centre for the first time since the sale, his parting remark being how magnificent it had become.

Ron was an uncompromising character known to many in the trade, he leaves his two sons Antony and Stuart, seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren and partner of 25 years, Gwen. They are all immensely proud of what he achieved in his life.