gathered at the Fairmont Southampton Princess for a luncheon to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the organisation on Friday.

SLC co-founder and organiser Dr. Michael Brook told the audience that learning was a process which age did not impede and should continue throughout life.

"Research at Princeton concluded that seniors who continue formal education will live longer and happier lives,'' he said.

He pointed out that recent research proved that mental activity, such as learning, helped brain cells grow.

"The brain grows bigger,'' he told the audience.

Dr. Brook noted that there was more than 30,000 years of collective experience in the audience and implored those present to share what they knew and learn from each other.

He later told The Royal Gazette that the SLC in Bermuda was "a very good example'' as other countries have started the programme but have not met with as much success.

Education Minister Milton Scott paid tribute to the people whose work had laid the foundation for the continued education of seniors.

"Continue to make your mark,'' he told the seniors.

Governor Thorold Masefield implored the seniors to not fall into inactivity but rather continue contributing to society and themselves to help develop and shape a new future.

And he praised the SLC as an organisation for giving the seniors an outlet through which to do this.

"It has seen rapid growth in ten years,'' he noted. "It's obvious this is a very, very strong one.'' BERMUDA COLLEGE EDC