Hawking laid to rest between Newton and Darwin
PROFESSOR Stephen Hawking has been laid to rest between the graves of Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin at Westminster Abbey, during a service to celebrate his life.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, musician Nile Rodgers, TV star David Walliams and Professor Brian Cox were among the guests who gathered to remember the renowned physicist.
His ashes were interred in Scientists’ Corner, the area of the Abbey dedicated to those who have made a significant contribution to the subject.
Choral music echoed through the grand building as family members, led by the Dean of Westminster, made their way to Mr Hawking’s final resting place.
His daughter, Lucy, and first wife Jane Hawking, were among those who laid flowers, while a medal created by the Stephen Hawking Foundation was also placed in the grave.
A memorial stone will lie above inscribed, “Here lies what was mortal of Stephen Hawking 1942-2018”.
The words are a translation of the Latin on the nearby grave of Sir Isaac Newton.
Mr Hawking’s voice was expected to be beamed into space, towards the nearest black hole, as his ashes were interred, set to an original piece of music composed by Vangelis.
His children have expressed their gratitude to Westminster Abbey for allowing their father to have a “distinguished” final resting place between the graves of two eminent scientists.
The dark memorial stone, designed by artist John Maine, is made from Caithness slate from the north of Scotland and was chosen to represent deep space. It is inscribed with his most famous black hole equation, hovering over a series of rings.
The service featured readings from Benedict Cumberbatch, who played the physicist in a BBC drama, and astronaut Tim Peake.
An address was given by Astronomer Royal Martin Rees, while Mr Hawking’s collaborator and Nobel prize winner Kip Thorne also gave a tribute.
Mr Hawking died at his
Cambridge home on March 14, aged 76.