While Stephen Hawking's family was laying the renowned scientist to rest at his funeral on Saturday, elsewhere in Cambridge 50 hungry people were sitting down to a hot meal "on Stephen".

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FoodCycle, a charity helping the hungry in Cambridge, organised an Easter lunch at a local church – and when the guests turned up they found notes on the tables: "Today's lunch is a gift from Stephen. From the Hawking family."

Guests gave a "little cheer" in honour of Hawking before tucking in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vUyWWTJn7Q

Hawking's funeral took place in the city on Saturday 31st March following his death at the age of 76.

Alexis Collis, FoodCycle's East of England Regional Manager, told ITV: "Lucy Hawking [Stephen's daughter] contacted me and mentioned that the family would like to make a donation so that while the funeral was taking place people would be sitting down to a hot meal 'on Stephen'.

https://twitter.com/AlexCollisCam/status/980093263054036992

"It was a really kind gesture that I think fitted well with the sympathy Prof Hawking felt for people who were having a tough time of things."

The community meal was open to anyone in need of a hot meal and a chat, with guests including the elderly, the homeless, refugees, people with mental health issues, and the unemployed.

https://twitter.com/FoodCycleCamb/status/980359807680032768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.itv.com%2Fnews%2Fanglia%2F2018-04-02%2Ffinal-gift-from-stephen-hawking-helps-the-hungry-in-cambridge-at-easter%2F

FoodCycle Cambridge collects unwanted food from businesses and organisations around the city in order to host a meal every Saturday. The Hawking family's donation is generous enough to fund several meals for hundreds of future guests.

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"The meals are open to anyone and there's no need to book or have a voucher," Collis explained. "No questions are asked and the meals have a great community feel with groups of difference people who might not otherwise meeting sitting down round a table together."

Authors

Eleanor Bley GriffithsDrama Editor, RadioTimes.com

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