Stephen Hawking, Astrophysicist dies at 76

gal_gadotRest in peace Dr.Hawking. Now you're free of any physical constraints.. Your brilliance and wisdom will be cherished forever ✨

Crowds gathered as the funeral of renowned theoretical physicist Prof Stephen Hawking took place.

Prof Hawking, who had motor neurone disease, died on 14 March, aged 76, at his home in Cambridge.

Actor Eddie Redmayne was one of several speakers at a service at the university church, Great St Mary's.

The professor's eldest son Robert, former student Prof Fay Dowker and Astronomer Royal Martin Rees also gave addresses to the congregation.

As the funeral cortege arrived at the church, the bells rang out 76 times - once for each year of Prof Hawking's life.

His close family, including his three children Lucy, Robert and Tim, followed behind the hearse carrying the professor's coffin.

As it pulled up, the vehicle was met with applause from the hundreds gathered outside the church.

An arrangement of white lilies, to represent the universe, and another of white roses representing the polar star was placed on top of his coffin.

It was carried into the church by six porters from Gonville and Caius College, where Prof Hawking was a fellow for more than 50 years.

The porters, who often assisted him when he visited the college for formal dinners, were asked to be pallbearers by the his family.

Up to 500 invited family, friends and colleagues were invited to the private service.

Among those inside the church was Eddie Redmayne, who played the role of the professor in the 2014 biographical drama The Theory of Everything.

He read from Ecclesiastes 3.1-11, while eulogies were delivered by Robert Hawking and Prof Dowker.

The service was officiated by the Reverend Dr Cally Hammond, Dean of Gonville and Caius College.

Other guests seen arriving at the service were Queen guitarist Brian May and actress Anita Dobson, and television presenter and comedian Dara O Briain.

Entrepreneur Elon Musk and playwright Alan Bennett had also been on the guest list.

The funeral was followed by a private reception at Trinity College.

Professor Hawking's ashes will be interred next to the grave of Sir Isaac Newton at Westminster Abbey in June.

A condolence book, which was opened on the morning of Prof Hawking's death, will be available to members of the public in the porters' lodge of Gonville and Caius College.

A service of thanksgiving for his life will take place at Westminster Abbey in London on 15 June during which time the professor's ashes will be interred next to the grave of Sir Isaac Newton who was buried there in 1727, and close to that of Charles Darwin, who was buried in 1882.

The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, said it was "entirely fitting" the professor's final resting place should be "near those of distinguished fellow scientists".