Professor Stephen Hawking laid to rest in Westminster Abbey.

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Stephen Hawking was one of the most clever and prominent scientists of our time. He came from a family whose backgrounds were in medicine and the sciences. He attended Oxford university and wrote his most famous book 'A brief history of Time'. Sadly he developed a form of Motor Neuron disease ALS symptoms of which started when he was at university he was diagnosed at the age of 21 and given 2 years to live.. He had several falls and was having difficulty coordinating his movement. This wicked illness eventually consumed his body becoming confined to a wheelchair and practically completely paralysed. He required 24 hours nursing care. He used an electronic voice synthesizer to speak and often traveled the world to lecture. One of his greatest ambitions was to fly into space. He flew to America and took part in a flight to experience weightlessness. There were concerns about him injuring himself but the crew looked after him so well the flight was actually extended. Sadly at the age of 76 which was remarkable considering he had been given just two years to live and despite the frequent bouts of pneumonia he proved the doctors wrong! Although he died in March there was a private funeral and cremation but a service of thanksgiving was held in Westminster Abbey London where all of our Royal family are crowned and the most famous people in the UK are remembered or buried here. His ashes were interred between the memorials of Sir Isaac Newton and Sir Charles Darwin. There are memorials in Westminster Abbey for Royalty, Poets, Authors, Politicians and many of our great Statesmen and women. Those who have had a great impact on the United Kingdom. RIP he can now travel the universe in whatever form his spirit has taken on.