SNSThe founding father of the Kwik Match storage chain, Sir Tom Farmer, has died on the age of 84.
The Edinburgh-born businessman died peacefully at his dwelling within the metropolis on Friday, his household stated.
He constructed the corporate into the world’s largest unbiased tyre and automotive chain, promoting it to Ford for £1bn in 1999.
Sir Tom owned a majority stake in Hibernian FC for greater than 20 years, promoting his curiosity within the membership in 2019.
Sir Tom was born in Leith in 1940 and first opened a tyre enterprise in 1964.
He began Kwik Slot in 1971, ultimately working in additional than 2,000 places in 18 nations.
He was knighted in 1997 for his providers to the automotive business, and he was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 2009.
A press release from his household stated: “Sir Tom’s lengthy and intensive profession touched many elements of Scottish and UK life.
“His enterprise profession is properly documented, as was his dedication to philanthropy, his many public roles and his unwavering assist and appreciation for the communities and those that he lived his life inside.”
PA MediaSir Tom’s philanthropic work noticed him awarded the Carnegie Medal and he grew to become a Knight Commander with Star of the Order of St. Gregory the Nice, an honour bestowed by the Pope, in 1997.
“Sir Tom’s Roman Catholic religion was current all through all areas of his life. He attended mass weekly in Edinburgh and loved the friendship and firm of many individuals with the Catholic group each right here in Scotland and additional afield,” his household stated.
“Sir Tom might be remembered by many for his deep dedication to his household, his work and his religion and for being always a proud Scotsman,” they added.
