Friends, family and fans turn out for Stephen Hawking’s funeral
Stephen Hawking will be cremated at a later date and his ashes are to be interred at London’s Westminster Abbey near the remains of fellow scientist Isaac Newton
Film stars, supermodels, comics and astronomers joined Stephen Hawking’s family and friends for his funeral in Cambridge, the city where he dedicated his life’s work to unravelling the mysteries of the universe.
The theoretical physicist who captured the imagination of millions around the world died on March 14 at the age of 76.
His death triggered a flood of tributes from Queen Elizabeth to Nasa, reflecting his impact both as a scientist and for his refusal to give up in the face of crippling motor neuron disease.
Hawking was famously an atheist but his children Lucy, Robert and Tim chose the church of St Mary the Great to say their farewell.
“Our father’s life and work meant many things to many people, both religious and non-religious,” they said, adding that for that reason the funeral was “both inclusive and traditional, reflecting the breadth and diversity of his life”.
