Tributes have been paid to the founder of the Kwik Fit garage chain and former Hibernian FC owner Sir Tom Farmer, who has died at the age of 84.
The Leith-born businessman, who built Kwik Fit into the world’s biggest independent tyre and automotive business, died peacefully at his home in Edinburgh on Friday.
He joined the ranks of Scotland’s mega-rich when he sold the business to Ford in 1999 for £1 billion. He later launched Farmer Autocare in the same sector.
He owned a majority stake in Hibernian FC for 28 years, selling his interest in the club in 2019 to the American businessman Ronald Gordon.
A statement from his family said: “Sir Tom’s long and extensive career touched many aspects of Scottish and UK life.
“His business career is well documented, as was his commitment to philanthropy, his many public roles and his unwavering support and appreciation for the communities and people that he lived his life within.
“Sir Tom’s Roman Catholic faith was present throughout all areas of his life. He attended mass weekly in Edinburgh and enjoyed the friendship and company of many people with the Catholic community both here in Scotland and further afield.
“Sir Tom will be remembered by many for his deep commitment to his family, his work and his faith and for being at all times a proud Scotsman.”
Sir Tom Farmer was born in Leith in 1940 and first opened a tyre business in 1964. He launched Kwik Fit in 1971, expanding it to 2,000 locations in 18 countries.
He was knighted in 1997 for his services to the automotive industry and was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 2009 for his charitable work.
He was awarded the Carnegie Medal and he became a Knight Commander with Star of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, an honour bestowed by the Pope, in 1997.
A statement from Hibernian on the social media platform X said: “Hibernian FC are devastated to hear of the passing of former owner Sir Tom Farmer, aged 84. Thank you for everything, Tom. Rest in peace.”
First Minister John Swinney wrote: “Very sorry to hear of the death of Sir Tom Farmer, an outstanding entrepreneur and such a generous individual to so many causes in Scotland. My condolences to his family.”
Michael Welch, who was guided by Sir Tom when he launched his own Blackcircles online tyre retailer, said: “Sir Tom was not only a giant of Scottish business but also someone who profoundly shaped my life and career.”
He added that he was “more than a business icon he was generous with his time, full of mischief and warmth, and deeply committed to helping others succeed. I owe a lot to his inspiration and mentorship. He believed in people, and in doing good by them.”
Public relations executive Kevin Dorrian said: “I was account director on the Kwik-Fit PR account for five years, so got to know him well. Not a man to suffer fools and was as straight talking as you’d expect.
“However, the most exciting PR work around that time was the “Hands off Hibs” campaign which, with his help, led me and colleagues into a totally new world of exceptional media scrutiny. Nothing Tom touch failed. He was unique!”
Anna Farmer, Sir Tom’s wife of 57 years, died in 2023 The family said Sir Tom often credited her for his business success.
They are survived by their two children and four grandchildren.
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