Cambridge colleagues pay tribute to 'inspirational' Hawking

Professors and students at college where he was a fellow praise his achievements

At the University of Cambridge's Gonville and Caius College, where Stephen Hawking was a fellow for more than half a century, the college flag was flying at half-mast on Wednesday.

It had been lowered in acknowledgement of the death of the internationally renowned scientist, who was also one of the college's most beloved figures. "Stephen's loss is a great one for the college," said its master, Prof Sir Alan Fersht, who first met Hawking in 1965 as a student. "Caius is Stephen - they have been intertwined for over 50 years."