Stephen Hawking’s final gift was to help feed the hungry

A donation from the late Stephen Hawking's family meant that a charity was able to feed the hungry while his funeral took place.

Thousands of people took to the streets in Cambridge on Saturday in memory of Stephen Hawking. Actor Eddie Redmayne, who played the scientist in a biopic of his life, The Theory of Everything, delivered a poignant reading of a biblical passage during the service, which was held at the University Church of St Mary the Great.

On the same day, a donation from his family helped fund FoodCycle’s Easter Lunch at Wesley Methodist Church, ITV Newsreports.

Approximately 50 people attended the lunch, and notes on the table read “a gift from Stephen”.

Alex Collis, east of England regional manager of FoodCycle, said Lucy Hawking, the theoretical physicist's daughter, had contacted the charity ahead of time so people could sit down to a hot meal “on Stephen”.

It was a really kind gesture.

The charity’s mission statement says:

We support people who are hungry and lonely by serving tasty lunches and dinners every single day in towns and cities across the country. 

Many of our guests struggle to afford the basics to eat and many will eat alone without company or conversation.

Volunteers cook approximately 1,000 meals a week, and the donation would provide meals for hundreds of people.

The organisation has also reclaimed 265 tonnes of surplus food.

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