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Sir Tom Farmer holds the Scottish Cup<\/p>\nSir Tom was credited by current head coach David Gray as having \u201csaved the club at a time of need\u201d.Sir Tom Farmer holds the Scottish Cup<\/p>\n
The hearse of Scottish business tycoon<\/a> and former owner of Hibernian FC Sir Tom Farmer will be driven past the club\u2019s stadium following his funeral so fans can pay their respects.<\/p>\n He owned a majority stake in Hibs for 28 years, selling his interest in 2019 to US businessman<\/a> Ron Gordon, and was credited by current head coach David Gray as having \u201csaved the club at a time of need\u201d.<\/p>\n Sir Tom\u2019s financial intervention helped block a hostile<\/a> takeover from Hearts chairman Wallace Mercer in 1990 and he bought the club and Easter Road from the receivers of the parent company a year later amid serious financial difficulties.<\/p>\n Hibs would soon win the first of two League Cups of Sir Tom\u2019s 28-year stewardship, and he also presided over the Scottish Cup being brought back to Easter Road in 2016 after a 114-year wait.<\/p>\n The founder of the Kwik Fit garage<\/a> chain died at his home in Edinburgh on May 9, aged 84. A minute\u2019s applause<\/a> was held for him at the Hibs v Rangers match at Easter Road on Saturday.<\/p>\n On Wednesday it was announced that following a private family funeral, Sir Tom will make a final journey past his beloved Easter Road stadium in Edinburgh on May 28 so fans and members of the public can say their goodbyes.<\/p>\n The hearse is expected to pass the club at around 12.45pm. A memorial service for him is planned later this year to acknowledge his contribution to civic and public life in Scotland<\/a> and beyond.<\/p>\n Sir Tom, a former director of MyTravel Group and ScottishPower<\/a>, was hailed by Scotland\u2019s First Minister John Swinney as a \u201cgenerous individual to so many causes in Scotland\u201d.<\/p>\n Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said Sir Tom was a \u201cproud Scot\u201d and a \u201chuge contributor\u201d to Edinburgh\u2019s community football.<\/p>\n Gray, whose late winner against Rangers<\/a> secured the Scottish Cup for Hibs, said \u201cit was a nice moment to be able to present the Scottish Cup to him for everything he\u2019s done as a Hibs supporter and everything he\u2019s been through\u201d.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cAll the times he\u2019s probably seen Hibs not win the Scottish Cup and all the pain he went through with that as well, so that was a real privileged moment for myself to be involved with the club on that day.<\/p>\n \u201cI know how much it meant to absolutely<\/a> everyone that day who was involved with the club, but no more so than him I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Born in Leith in 1940 as the youngest<\/a> of seven children, Sir Tom started Kwik Fit in 1971 and grew it to become an international chain before selling it to Ford for \u00a31 billion in 1999.<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n All you have to do is click here if you’re on mobile<\/strong><\/a>, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in!<\/p>\n If you’re on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click ‘Join Community’.<\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n He married Anne in 1966 after they met at their local church, and the devout Catholics<\/a> were together for 57 years until her death in 2023.<\/p>\n He was knighted in 1997 for his services to the automotive industry and made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 2009 for his charitable work, including<\/a> as chairman of the board of trustees for the Duke of Edinburgh\u2019s Award.<\/p>\n He was the first Scot to be awarded<\/a> the prestigious Andrew Carnegie Medal for philanthropy, and was made a Knight Commander with Star of the Order of St Gregory the Great by the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n His family said in a statement previously that Sir Tom\u2019s life and career \u201ctouched many aspects of Scottish and UK life\u201d, and his philanthropy would be remembered.<\/p>\n They added: \u201cSir Tom will be remembered<\/a> by many for his deep commitment to his family, his work and his faith and for being at all times a proud Scotsman.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_JS368476603.jpg\")
Rod Petrie, Sir Tom Farmer and Ron Gordon<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1747398730_254_0_WACOMMUNITYQR3.jpg\")
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