Bermuda’s senior citizens have been treated to a three-course French meal to celebrate their resilience in the wake of the recent storms.

The Taste of France luncheon for members of the Seniors’ Learning Centre was provided for free by Beau Rivage’s award-winning executive chef and owner Jean Claude Garzia. The luncheon and was served in the Bermuda College’s Prospect Room.

Before the dinner was served, the centre’s executive director Janet Ferguson toasted the seniors for weathering the storms.

“I would like to thank Mr Garzia who went to extraordinary lengths to put this together on time [due to complications] but our seniors were determined to do this and we were determined to demonstrate that we are active seniors — we engage, we are resourceful and we are resilient,” she said.

Senior citizen Hyacinthe Smith had to move from her home in Spanish Point to stay with family in Warwick. She recalled: “We were afraid the tides would be too high. We had calls from friends and family in Canada and Boston telling us to get out of there. So I thought maybe they are right. Consequently we did move and we were safe. When we went back home everything was perfect except for the tree we have in our yard and in the summer time we use it for shade — I could have cried. I have a habit of feeding birds everyday just like I feed my children and they lived in the tree. Now they are just wandering around.”

The Seniors’ Learning Centre organises events for its members throughout the year. The Taste of France lunch was part of a French series of events that invited members to watch French movies, listen to French music and even take French lessons.

“It keeps my mind active and it’s great for meeting people. I met a lady earlier and we just sat and chatted away,” Mrs Smith said.

Former nurse Judy Whayman said: “We had some tree damage but on the positive side it’s opened up my view of St George’s now and I want to do away with those big tall trees now and just have bushes. Cleaning up after the storms brought us together as a family and you felt good going to bed at night knowing you’d done a full day at work. These [Senior Leaning Centre] events are fantastic — they are a lot of fun and you get to meet different people.”

Her dinner partner Pamela Leibowitch, also a former nurse, added: “It’s just the togetherness I enjoy — we get people from all walks of life. If you like people you will enjoy it. Some people say they don’t want to be associated with seniors but they miss out.”

Mr Garzia and his team served sea scallops au gratin with Swiss cheese for starter, beef bourguignon with boiled potatoes for the main and tarte aux pommes de terre with vanilla ice cream for dessert.

“These guys have worked all their lives to make Bermuda what it is today and we have to support them,” he said.