Ex-Hibs owner and Kwik Fit founder Sir Tom Farmer dies aged 84
He passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, his family have confirmed
Last updated 10th May 2025
Sir Tom Farmer, the founder of Kwik Fit and former owner of Hibernian FC, has died at the age of 84.
The Leith-born entrepreneur passed away peacefully at his Edinburgh home on Friday.
A spokesperson for the 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 founded the Kwik Fit garage chain in the capital in 1971, and had amassed more than 2,000 garages across 18 different countries by the time he sold the company to Ford for £1 billion in 1999. He was also a former director of MyTravel Group and Scottish Power.
The Edinburgh businessman will be fondly remembered by Hibs fans for stepping in to buy the club at a time of crisis.
When then-Hearts owner Wallace Mercer launched a takeover bid of Hibs in 1990, Sir Tom intervened after learning that his grandfather, Philip, had helped to bail the club out of bankruptcy 100 years earlier.
He bought the club for £3 million after a fan-led “Hands off Hibs” campaign to rescue the Leith outfit from financial ruin.
In tribute, Hibs posted a short statement that read: "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."
Sir Tom owned a majority stake in the club for 28 years before selling his interest to US businessman Ron Gordon in 2019.
First Minister John Swinney said: “I am 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. He was a source of wise counsel who gave so much of himself to assist others. Sir Tom made a profound impact on his beloved Leith, on Scotland and the wider world. I express my condolences to his family.”