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Stephen Hawking’s funeral held in Cambridge
The funeral service of British physicist Stephen Hawking was held in Cambridge on Saturday in presence of stars and academics who turned out to pay tribute to the world-famous professor.
Up to 500 family members, friends and colleagues attended the private funeral service at the Great St. Mary’s Church, officiated by the Reverend Dr Cally Hammond, Dean of Gonville and Caius College, where Hawking was a fellow for more than 50 years, the BBC reported.
Thousands of citizens and visitors were estimated to have turned up outside the church to pay their respects, watching Hawking’s coffin being carried by six porters into the church.
Guests seen arriving earlier for the service included model and Cambridge University graduate Lily Cole, Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Brian May and comedian Dara O Briain, who made a documentary about Hawking, the Evening Standard reported.
Actor Eddie Redmayne, who played the the world-famous scientist in biopic “The Theory of Everything”, was one of the first to arrive at the funeral and was scheduled to pay tribute to the physicist in a speech during the service.
Actress Felicity Jones, who played Hawking’s wife in the movie, also arrived with her partner.
Redmayne will give a reading of Ecclesiastes 3.1-11 as the chosen text, which will be followed by a reading by the Astronomer Royal, Martin Rees. Eulogies will be delivered by Hawking’s eldest son Robert and Professor Fay Dowker, a former student of Hawking.
Hawking, who had motor neurone disease, died on March 14, aged 76, at his home in the city.
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.”
Hawking’s children said they had chosen to hold the funeral in Cambridge because Hawking lived and worked in Cambridge for more than half a century and was “an integral and highly recognizable part” of the city which “he loved so much and which loved him”.
Partial road closures were implemented in Cambridge and the funeral will be followed by a private reception at Trinity College, close to the church.
More than three thousand people have visited Gonville and Caius College since Hawking’s death to sign a book of condolence, which the college said will be eventually presented to Hawking’s family.
In addition, an online version of the book also gathered thousands of messages from well-wishers all over the world.
A legendary figure in the modern history of physics, Hawking is known for his work with black holes and relativity, and authored several bestsellers on science, despite being bound to wheelchair after contracting a motor neurone disease in 1963 at the age of 21.
Hawking’s ashes will be interred next to the remains of Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin at Westminster Abbey in London on June 15.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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