Alfred Romary was born 24th April 1844 at Southborough the fifth child of John and Sophia Romary

Alfred Romary set up in business in 1862 at 26 Church Road, Tunbridge Wells. Initially he was classified as a 'Water cake maker', but it was his wafers that made his name famous around the globe as they sold at Macy's of New York; Harrods, Fortnum and Mason and many others in London; as well as food stores in Belgium and Paris. A Romary advertisement describe the wafers 'As thin as lace, of a flavour so delicate as to be indefinable. The clubs serve them with port, but they are also excellent with ices or at afternoon tea. Many people prefer them to sweets and chocolate. In two flavours, Sweet and Ginger.'

Queen Victoria visited Alfred Romary's shop on 23rd December 1876 and liked the wafers so much that she awarded him a Royal Warrant as Biscuit Manufacturer on 31st July 1884. The warrant was renewed by King Edward VII on 9th August 1901 and subsequently through the years until awarded by Queen Elizabeth II on 1st August 1963. In 1926 A. Romary & Co. became a limited compnay when W.A.P. Lane bought it and then in 1935 Romary and Co. was acquired by British Biscuits a subsidiary of Rowntree and Co. (now part of Nestle).

Alfred married Martha Harvey on 5th December 1865 and together they had a family of nine children, all at Tunbridge Wells. Alfred died on 30th March 1929 at the age of 85