Happiness was in abundance at the WER Joell Tennis Stadium when the Treasures Tennis Programme made a comeback on Wednesday.

More than 60 participants came out to revive the programme which features the island’s seniors, aged 55 and above, taking part in training sessions and matches every Wednesday.

David Lambert, the director of tennis at Lambert Island Tennis, ran the programme from 2017 until November 2020 at Government House and he is back as one of the coaches alongside Tariq Simons, Jacklyn Lambert, Eldon Daniels, Gavin Manders and Barbara Lambert.

“What we saw today was the first day of a programme that is going to run until the end of October,” Lambert said.

“At the end of the last session, we’ll all collectively make a decision if we’re continuing or taking a break. We move based on response and we expect this programme to grow because people talk.

“We already have 15 people that want to come next week in addition to that we had on the first day.

“We’re definitely doing something in November and we saw enough players on the first day to make a league out of the players that we have.

“We can put together a little draw and they show up every week to play. We can absorb 30 people in a league.

“We are really grateful to our sponsors, the Government of Bermuda, Jim Butterfield of Butterfield & Vallis, Michael Dunkley of Dunkley's, Paul Spring of Pepsi and Frank Fischer for ensuring that there is no cost to players to participate in this programme.”

Alfred Simmons, at 86 years old, is the oldest participant and welcomed the return of the programme.

“I’m just to get myself back into it, because I need that exercise back,” Simmons said.

“I’ve done a lot of roller-skating and stuff like that just to stay fit. I used to play league tennis on Saturdays back in the day until I was 60. My club used to be on top of the hill close by under the late Charles Daulphin.”

Daniels, a former tennis player who won almost every title on the island during his playing days, is one of the coaches involved with the programme and urged the island’s seniors to take part.

“It’s better to be fit and healthy than to be sitting down at home watching television and you can’t move,’’ the 69-year-old said.

“My advice to older people is if you can get on an exercise routine, do it while you can.”

Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport and his health counterpart Kim Wilson came out to support the initiative, with the two even playing an exhibition match.

“One of the goals of the sports policy is to increase participation in sport,” Darrell said.

“For those that may be new to this particular group and to those that are returning, it bodes well with the policy to increase sports participation.”

Wilson applauded the programme for getting the older members of the population active.

“One of the mottos of the Ministry of Health is Move more Bermuda,” she said.

“We know that not only does movement help to circumvent things that might challenge you physically, but as well as mentally. This is Mental Health Awareness Month so I commend all of you for continuing with efforts to move more Bermuda.”