The celebration lunch for the award of the Circle’s 2023 Rosebowl for Distinguished Service to the Arts took place on November 7th at the National Liberal Club, with Sir Derek Jacobi receiving the award from Kate Maltby and Rosemary Waugh, outgoing and incoming Chair of the Theatre section. Eighty members of the Circle foregathered to applaud Sir Derek, bask in the general glory, and have a rare get-together with
members from the different sections. 
Circle President Robert Thicknesse proposed the toast “To Art!”, using the Circle’s prized Dickens Goblet. Mesdames Maltby and Waugh delivered joint encomia to Sir Derek, who responded graciously with his theatrical memories over 60 years, and the closing observation that he had never read the critics. Photos by Piers Allardyce
