Bruce was born in Sheffield, England. He studied at Woodhouse Grammar School, before moving on to Loughborough College (now Loughborough University), where he graduated in 1962 in Physical Education and Geography.

He went on to teach for 2 years in Romford, Essex, before becoming Head of PE at the Boys Grammar, Kings School, Grantham for 4 years. Then the traveling passion started to be realized when he moved to Geneva, Switzerland for 4 years as Deputy Director/Recreation Director at the International School (Lycee des Nations), returning to the UK in 1973, as Recreation Director of Crawley College of Technology, until 1977.

Whilst continuing to coach his own squad of athletes, he used his expertise in other sports (tennis, football, rugby union and rugby league), and continued to travel, establishing yet further links with coaches in different countries.

Having attended far too many major championships to list here, he coached athletes to World, Olympic, European and Commonwealth gold medals (and world records), worked as a visiting overseas coach for the International Athletic Federation (IAAF), European Athletic Association (EAA) and The British Council, but his passion remained, and he continued to help as many athletes and coaches as he could, helping them to achieve their personal own goals.