John Swinney has paid tribute to the “deep impact” of Sir Tom Farmer after the Scottish businessman died at the age of 84.
Sir Tom, who founded the Kwik Fit garage chain and was also former director of Mytravel Group and Scottish Power, died at his home in Edinburgh on Friday.
He had a majority participation in Hibernian Football Club for 28 years, selling his interest in 2019 to the American businessman Ron Gordon.
The prime minister acclaimed him as a “generous individual to so many causes in Scotland.”
The Scottish secretary, Ian Murray, said he was a “proud Scottish” and a “great taxpayer” to Edimburg's community football.
His family said in a statement on Saturday that Sir Tom's life and career “touched many aspects of Scottish life and the United Kingdom”, and his philanthropy would be remembered.
They added: “More than anything, Sir Tom was a family man. He was born in Leith, Edinburgh, in 1940 he was the youngest of seven children.
“He often talked about the love, care and attention they gave him to being the youngest of such a large family.”
Sir Tom began Kwik in form in 1971 and became an international chain before selling it to Ford for £ 1 billion in 1999.
He was appointed Caballero in 1997 for his services to the automotive industry and made a commander of the Royal Victorian order in 2009 for his charity work, even as president of the Board of Trustees for the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
He was the first Scottish to receive the prestigious Andrew Carnegie medal for philanthropy, and was appointed gentleman commander with the star of the order of San Gregorio la Grande by the Catholic Church.
The prime minister issued a statement on Saturday afternoon, saying: “I am very sorry to know the death of Sir Tom Farmer, an outstanding entrepreneur and an individual so generous for so many causes in Scotland.
“It was a source of a wise advice that gave himself so much to help others.
“Sir Tom had a deep impact on his beloved Leith, on Scotland and in the world in general. I express my condolences to his family.”
Hibernian chief coach David Gray also talked about his sadness for the death of Sir Tom, saying that the businessman had “saved the club in a moment of necessity.”
Gray recalled at the time he delivered the Scottish Cup to Sir Tom in 2016 after the 114 -year waiting for the trophy.
He said: “My relationship with him personally, it was not as if he had seen him all the time, at all, but I had a really positive meeting and introduction with him, which was directly after the final of the Cup.
“I saw him on Sunday and it was a good time to be able to present the Scottish Cup for everything he has done as a supporter of Hibs and everything that has happened.
“Every time, I have probably seen Hibs not win the Scottish Cup and all the pain that happened also, so that was a really privileged moment for me to get involved with the club that day.”
A publication on Kwik Fit page said that everyone in the company “are very sad”, adding: “Sir Tom will always be an imposing figure in our industry. His entrepreneurship revolutionized the automotive sector of the United Kingdom accessories market and built the bases on which we are today.
“Although Sir Tom's direct connection with the company ended more than two decades ago, its professional and personal qualities have remained a positive influence on many members of the Kwik Fit team to this day.”
The businessman had three brothers and three sisters, many nephews and nephews, and the family said he was “proud to be an uncle for them and their families.”
He married Anne in 1966 after they met in his local church, and the devotees Catholics were together for 57 years until his death in 2023.
His family said Sir Tom often accredited Anne for her commercial success: “In later years, when asked about the secret of his success, he often said it was because” he married a girl like Anne. “
“They lived their entire marriage life in Edinburgh and are survived by their two children and four grandchildren.
“The Roman Catholic faith of Sir Tom was present in all areas of his life. He attended Mass Weekly in Edinburgh and enjoyed the friendship and the company of many people with the Catholic community both here in Scotland and in the background.
“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 Scottish.”
Hibs paid tribute to an X publication, saying: “Hibernian FC is devastated when listening about the death of former owner Sir Tom Farmer, 84.
“Thank you for everything, Tom. Rest in peace.”
The family has requested privacy.
