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Stephen Hawking: crowds line streets of Cambridge for physicist's funeral Stephen Hawking: crowds line streets of Cambridge for physicist's funeral
(35 minutes later)
The funeral service of Prof Stephen Hawking has begun at the University Church of St Mary the Great in Cambridge. The actor Eddie Redmayne gave a reading at the funeral of Prof Stephen Hawking, as well-wishers lined the streets and applause broke out as the renowned physicist’s coffin was carried into the church.
Hundreds of people lined the streets before the service, and a round of applause broke out as six porters from the physicist’s former college, Gonville and Caius, carried his coffin from the hearse into the church. Redmayne, who played Hawking in the 2014 biographical drama The Theory of Everything, was among 500 guests invited to the University Church of St Mary the Great in Cambridge. He gave a biblical reading at the service and the astronomer royal Martin Rees also spoke.
His family arrived in cars behind the hearse and were last into the church. Guests seen arriving at the service included the model and Cambridge University graduate Lily Cole, Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Brian May and comedian Dara Ó Briain, who made a documentary about Hawking.
Guests seen arriving included the model and Cambridge University graduate Lily Cole, Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Brian May and comedian Dara Ó Briain, who made a documentary about Hawking.
The renowned British physicist died peacefully at his Cambridge home on 14 March at the age of 76.The renowned British physicist died peacefully at his Cambridge home on 14 March at the age of 76.
The actor Eddie Redmayne, who played the role of Professor Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything, is giving a reading at the funeral. Redmayne will deliver lines from Ecclesiastes 3.1-11 at the service. His reading includes the lines: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. The church bell tolled 76 times, once for each year of Hawking’s life, as the solid oak coffin adorned with floral tributes arrived in a hearse.
“A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up. A round of applause spontaneously broke out as Hawking’s coffin was carried into the church by six porters from Cambridge University’s Gonville and Caius College, where he was a fellow for 52 years.
“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.” Family members of the cosmologist, including his three children Lucy, Robert and Tim, followed the coffin into the church.
Redmayne’s reading will be followed by a reading by the astronomer royal, Martin Rees. Eulogies will be delivered by Robert Hawking, Hawking’s eldest child, and Prof Fay Dowker, a former student of Hawking. The service will be officiated by the Rev Dr Cally Hammond, dean of Gonville and Caius College.
Music at the service will be performed by the Choir of Gonville and Caius College. The choir will perform Beyond the Night Sky, commissioned by Gonville and Caius as a gift for Hawking for his 75th birthday in 2017. Its lyrics include quotes from A Brief History of Time. Robert Hawking, Hawking’s eldest child, delivered a eulogy. The service was officiated by the Rev Dr Cally Hammond, dean of Gonville and Caius College.
Hawking was a fellow at Gonville and Caius College for 52 years. His coffin was carried by six porters from the college, who wore traditional uniform including bowler hats. Many of the college porters knew Hawking and were asked by his family to be pallbearers.
The flags of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, Trinity Hall, Cambridge and University College, Oxford are flying at half-mast in honour of Hawking.The flags of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, Trinity Hall, Cambridge and University College, Oxford are flying at half-mast in honour of Hawking.
In a statement, Hawking’s children, Lucy, Robert and Tim, said: “On behalf of our whole family we want to express our huge gratitude to all the wonderful tributes to our father and to those who have sent us messages of condolence. In a statement before the funeral, Hawking’s children said: “On behalf of our whole family we want to express our huge gratitude to all the wonderful tributes to our father and to those who have sent us messages of condolence.
“Our father lived and worked in Cambridge for over 50 years. He was an integral and highly recognisable part of the university and the city. “Our father lived and worked in Cambridge for over 50 years. He was an integral and highly recognisable part of the university and the city.”
“For this reason, we have decided to hold his funeral in the city that he loved so much and which loved him. Our father’s life and work meant many things to many people, both religious and non-religious. So, the service will be both inclusive and traditional, reflecting the breadth and diversity of his life. The funeral was followed by a private reception at Trinity College.
“We would like to thank Gonville and Caius College, the University of Cambridge and Trinity College, Cambridge, for their assistance with our father’s funeral service.”
Hawking’s ashes will be interred close to the remains of Sir Isaac Newton in Westminster Abbey on 15 June. A book of condolence for Hawking remains open at Gonville and Caius College, and an online book has also been set up.Hawking’s ashes will be interred close to the remains of Sir Isaac Newton in Westminster Abbey on 15 June. A book of condolence for Hawking remains open at Gonville and Caius College, and an online book has also been set up.
Stephen HawkingStephen Hawking
CambridgeCambridge
University of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge
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