I just got to my computer to find this very, very sad news on the BBC website: Stephen Hawking has passed away, aged 76. Hawking has always been one of my heroes, not only through his scientific work but as a communication aid user. As perhaps the most visible VOCA user around, he sort of came to represent all of us. I read his Brief History Of Time years ago, when I was still at school, but, for me, the moment I will always remember Hawking for is his awesome appearance at Monty Python Live, singing the Galaxy Song. Rest in peace Stephen Hawking, you will be greatly missed.