Renowned Scottish entrepreneur and devout Catholic behind the Kwik Fit automotive chain, Sir Tom Farmer, has died peacefully at his home in Edinburgh, aged 84.

Born in Leith in 1940, Sir Tom's journey in business began with a modest tyre shop in 1964, as reported by the BBC.

He went on to launch Kwik Fit in 1971, transforming it into the world’s largest independent automotive repair network, with over 2,000 locations in 18 countries. The business was sold to Ford in 1999 for £1bn.

A committed Catholic, Sir Tom’s faith guided both his personal and professional life.

His family told the outlet: "He attended Mass weekly in Edinburgh and enjoyed the friendship and company of many people within the Catholic community both here in Scotland and further afield."

His philanthropic efforts were widely recognised, earning him honours including the Carnegie Medal and a papal knighthood as a Knight Commander with Star of the Order of St Gregory the Great.

He was knighted in 1997 for services to industry and later received the Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for charitable contributions.

Sir Tom also played a crucial role in Scottish football as the majority owner of Hibernian FC for nearly three decades, stepping in to save the club in a time of crisis and selling his stake in 2019.

The club expressed its sorrow, stating: "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."

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney praised him as "an outstanding entrepreneur and such a generous individual to so many causes in Scotland", while Scottish Secretary Ian Murray remembered him as a "huge contributor" to Edinburgh’s community.