A galaxy of stars come out for science’s master of the universe
THE world paid tribute yesterday to the remarkable man who overcame crippling disabilities to pursue his passion of unravelling the secrets of the universe.
Actors and academics were among the mourners at the funeral of the renowned physicist Professor Stephen Hawking, who died still striving to answer life’s biggest questions.
Hundreds of well-wishers, young and old, lined the streets of Cambridge and burst into spontaneous applause as the cortege pulled up outside Great St Mary’s Church. An arrangement of white lilies representing the universe and another of white roses to illustrate the polar star were placed on top of his coffin.
The church bells rang out 76 times – one for each year of the extraordinary life of a man who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the age of 21 – and told he wouldn’t live to see his 25th birthday.
Prof Hawking’s 1988 book, A Brief History Of Time, introduced physics to the wider public and was on The Sunday Times’ bestseller list for a record 237 weeks.
His coffin was carried into the church by six porters from Gonville and Caius College, where he was a fellow for more than 50 years. The family mourners were led by Prof Hawking’s ex-wife Jane and their three children, Lucy, Robert and Timothy.
Eddie Redmayne – who won an Oscar for his betrayal of the physicist in the movie, The Theory Of Everything – was one of several speakers among a congregation of 500.
Felicity Jones, who starred as Jane Hawking in the film, was another mourner.
Prof Hawking’s ashes will be interred at Westminster Abbey in London, next to the grave of Sir Isaac Newton.