主播大秀

During the celebration event, a number of people shared their memories with the invited audience. We've included Telegraph radio critic Gillian Reynolds touching recollections of David and the enduring appeal of radio.听

"There would be a sharp tap on my bedroom door most Sunday nights.

"Keep the noise down, Ma," the sons would says. I expect you can imagine the rest.

I was in bed with David Jacobs on Radio 2. He was playing some show song, I was singing along. I won't have been alone.

When he was ill and off the air I had so many letters from readers. Wanting to know about his health, when he would be coming back. All of us knew him - as we know radio voices, taking them as part of the pattern of our lives. Some went as far back with David as I did. All the way back to the post-war 1940s and Jazz Club.

I wonder if people who work in radio really understand, I mean really get, how much listeners attach ourselves to favourite voices. When someone seems to be making us feel part of a conversation. It's an illusion, of course. But it's a vital one.

The RAJAR audience figures just came out today and, as most of you already know, they're the highest since RAJARs began. What they show, again and against many an expectation, how much a part of British life radio still is. To people in other countries, America, Australia, it's a wonder, a marvel.

It wasn't just music radio, either. He was an exemplary chairman of Any Questions for seventeen years. I listen to him with respect. i can't forget the first I was on it. It was in Liverpool at a police club. The star of the panel was Enoch Powell.

The guiding star of the whole evening, however, was David. As you may imagine, it was a noisy evening. David managed perfectly.

Years later, coming back from another Any Questions, he was equally impressive, this time at remembering all the words of Polka Dots and Moonbeams. For those of us who believe culture is best woven on a broad loom, such things matter.

I haven't forgotten Journey Into Spaaace, and Housewives Choice, and Melodies For You and Juke Box Jury and the squillions of other programmes he did on radio and tv, let's celebrate what made David such good company.

He cast a special spell, the one that makes you think the person on the radio knows you, that you know him. On his last show, David played Lena Horne singing I Concentrate On You, and you could feel that electric connection. No illusion. The rare real thing.

That was the magic of David Jacobs. He was talking to people who'd known him for decades (like me) and people who'd only tuned in the week before. He always held the door open for all of us, welcoming us in, like the wise, funny, astute and perfect host he was."

• is broadcast on Sunday 9 February at 11.00pm on 主播大秀 Radio 2听

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