The founder of the Kwik-Fit fast fit chain, Sir Tom Farmer, has died. Sir Tom, 84, built the chain into the world’s biggest independent tyre and automotive chain, selling it to Ford for £1bn in 1999.
Sir Tom owned a majority stake in Hibernian FC for 28 years. He set up Kwik Fit in 1971 and built it into a chain with more than 2,000 locations.
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.
In 1990 he was awarded the CBE and in 1993 the President of Poland awarded him The Knight Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.
In 1996 Queen Beatrix awarded him Officier in de Orde van Orange-Nassau of The Netherlands.
In 2006, he was the first Scot to be awarded the prestigious Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.
