David Jacobs had an impact in the arts beyond the world of broadcasting. In 1989 he became the first chair of the Kingston Theatre Trust, a role he fulfilled with wit, determination and no small amount of ingenuity as we strove to build "the first theatre of the 21st century". In January 2008, the Rose theatre, Kingston, opened with Peter Hall's production of Uncle Vanya.
The suggestion, years earlier, that Kingston's theatre should be modelled on one built in 1587 momentarily took David aback: he had envisaged a stage with a proscenium arch and plush seats. Within two minutes he had warmed to the idea and then his imagination became gripped. During his two decades leading the theatre's board there were difficult times, not least financially, but David's optimism was crucial in keeping the project afloat. There can have been few more warming sights than his broad smile which – until very recently – would light up every opening night. The Rose is a memorial to his commitment to the arts.