Downing College Cambridge

Spent today helping at a conference at Downing College.  So I was (unusually) in Cambridge in the heart of it, the day that Stephen Hawking died.  Felt very moved by this as I heard Lucy Hawking's session at the Linton Children's Book Festival in 2014.  She spoke movingly and beautifully about the influence and inspiration he'd been on her life.

I also recall the feeling of disbelief and excitement 24 hours earlier when Valerie, the organiser, was told that he might turn up to see and support his daughter and were the disability access requirements in place?  (they were).

In the end he didn't come as he was poorly.   RIP Steven Hawking, I believe the most extraordinary and influential scientist of our times.