Stephen Hawking’s final gift to the world as he pays for Easter meal for homeless people

The final act of kindness by Professor Stephen Hawking before his death has been revealed by a charity which helps the homeless.

As the world-renowned scientist’s funeral took place on the other side of Cambridge, those in need were treated to an Easter lunch thanks to the physicist.

A donation from his family helped to pay for a meal put on by FoodCycle at Wesley Methodist Church.

A note left on the table told the 50 guests that the lunch was a ‘gift from Stephen’, while organisers of the event said the professor was given a ‘little cheer’ by diners.

A note left on the table told the 50 guests that the lunch was a ‘gift from Stephen’, while organisers of the event said the professor was given a ‘little cheer’ by diners

The final act of kindness by Professor Stephen Hawking before his death has been revealed by a charity which helps the homeless 

A donation from his family helped to pay for a meal put on by FoodCycle at Wesley Methodist Church

FoodCycle Cambridge said: ‘We’re so grateful to the Hawking family for their generous donation so we could give our guests an extra special Easter meal yesterday.

‘We had a little cheer in honour of Stephen Hawking before tucking in.’ 

Thousands lined the streets of Cambridge on Saturday for the funeral of the theoretical physicist, who died peacefully at his home earlier this month. 

Eddie Redmayne, who played the professor in 2014’s The Theory of Everything, was among 500 guests invited to the University Church of St Mary the Great.

He gave a biblical reading at the service, and Astronomer Royal Martin Rees also spoke.

Model Lily Cole, Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Brian May and comedian Dara O Briain were among those seen arriving tothe funeral. 

Thousands lined the streets of Cambridge on Saturday for the funeral of the theoretical physicist, who died peacefully at his home earlier this month 

As the world-renowned scientist’s funeral took place on the other side of Cambridge, those in need were treated to an Easter lunch thanks to the physicist

Prof Hawking’s family, including ex wife Jane Hawking (near right), son Timothy Hawking (middle, right) and Lucy Hawking (far right) in attendance at the funeral on Saturday

The church bell tolled 76 times, once for each year of Prof Hawking’s life, as the solid oak coffin adorned with floral tributes arrived in a hearse.

A round of applause spontaneously broke out as Prof 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.

Family members of the cosmologist, including his three children a Lucy, Robert and Tim, followed the coffin into the church.

In a statement released ahead of Saturday’s service they said they chose to hold the funeral “in the city that he loved so much and which loved him”.

Mourners gather outside King’s College, Cambridge as the funeral cortege of British physicist Stephen Hawking passes by, on route to Great St Mary’s Church

Eddie Redmayne was among the first to have arrived in Cambridge for the funeral of renowned theoretical physicist Professor Stephen Hawking, who died at home on March 14

Robert Hawking, who is Prof Hawking’s eldest child, delivered a eulogy at the service.

Prof Hawking died peacefully at his Cambridge home on March 14 at the age of 76. The cosmologist had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease in his 20s.

The church where Saturday’s private funeral service was held is near to Gonville and Caius College. The funeral was followed by a private reception at Trinity College.

Prof Hawking’s ashes will be interred close to the remains of Sir Isaac Newton in Westminster Abbey on June 15.

Prof Hawking’s ashes will be interred close to the remains of Sir Isaac Newton in Westminster Abbey on June 15 

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