With the passing of Sir Tom Farmer, who died peacefully at home on 9 May, aged 84, the UK loses a significant figure within the tyre industry and beyond. Kwik Fit, the company he founded more than half a century ago, is amongst the many who honoured Sir Tom over the weekend.
Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of a brand that launched an entire automotive sector and today is familiar to every motorist up and down the land. On 16 April 1971 in McDonald Road, Edinburgh, the first ever Kwik Fit centre opened its garage doors to motorists, offering the new concept of ‘fast fit’ services, replacing components while drivers waited.
As well as the popular Tyre Industry Awards, the NTDA also presented special awards to three individuals that have gone the extra mile in their service of the tyre industry over the years during the annual dinner at the start of October. The association honoured Kwik-Fit founder and well-known philanthropist Sir Tom Farmer with the national chairman’s award for outstanding contribution to the tyre industry as well as an honorary life membership of the association. In addition Brian Funnell and Lennie Wells become honorary life members (see “Brian Funnell and Lennie Wells become NTDA honorary life members“).
The Tyre Industry Awards have been presented for 2016 during the sold-out NTDA Annual Dinner, this year hosted by the Vox Conference Centre on the site of Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre. In addition to the various gongs, the NTDA presented Sir Tom Farmer with the National Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Tyre Industry, sponsored by Hankook UK, while Brian Funnell and Lennie Wells were also made NTDA Honorary Life Members. Presented by television personality Suzi Perry, the winners were decided by a panel of leading industry judges, and the results live-tweeted by Tyrepress via its Twitter feed.
Sir Tom Farmer, founder of the Kwik Fit automotive services network, has been named as the ninth person to receive the prestigious Edinburgh Award. The entrepreneur and philanthropist was selected to receive the accolade from a shortlist of nominations cast by the Edinburgh public. He will receive an engraved Loving Cup from the city’s Lord Provost at a ceremony within the City Chambers early next year.
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