His sister also lived to be 100 and passed away a couple of years ago.
“Mum and Dad took me out of school when I was 14 and I went to work as a shepherd on a station in the backcountry in Dipton, way up by Lumsden,” Bruce said.
“After that I started an apprenticeship in Dunedin as a carpenter, and I travelled around with the building company I worked for until I was conscripted into the NZ Army in about 1940 when I was 18.”
Bruce trained at various army bases before transferring to the Royal NZ Air Force as an armourer.
He served with the air force in the Pacific, working on a variety of aircraft including Dauntless dive bombers, P38 Lightnings and earlier Harvards.
“I was in the services for seven years and when I came out I went to Palmerston North to complete my carpenter’s apprenticeship.
“I met and married a girl from Feilding, Norma Cochrane, who was a WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) based in Wellington, and we had two children together, Jennifer and Lynette.”
His wife passed away some years ago.
While in Palmerston North, after completing his apprenticeship, he went into business as a builder, and eventually employed 14 carpenters.
But health issues later led to a change in vocation.
“I went to the doctor one day and he told me I should give up the building game, which I did.
“Then I saw an advertisement for a vacuum cleaner salesman and decided to give that a go.”
After several years in the Palmerston North area in that role he came to Gisborne to establish a vacuum cleaner business of his own, which still operates today in Ormond Road.
It has been going on around 50 years, and Bruce remains well known throughout the district for the products he sells and services.
“I’d like to think I’m known for my honesty, good service and for selling a good product.”
His daughter and grand-daughter were with him when Bruce was honoured with the tribute lawn bowls tournament at the Gisborne Bowling Club earlier this month.
He was made a life member of the club earlier this year after 30 years of involvement in various roles.
“There’s more to my life than bowls though,” he told The Herald.
“I’ve always loved hunting, particularly pheasant shooting.
“My late great mate Michael Miller and I were known as ‘The Great White Hunters’ on the East Coast for shooting pheasants.
“We specialised in it.”
Bruce has always loved his music.
He played in a dance band called the Golden Mouldies for 36 years.
He played the double bass, Ray Zame the saxophone, Len Barker and later Sandy Hovell played piano, Barrie Gordon was on the drums, Joe Chambers on clarinet and their soloist was Ula Green.
“We played all the old tunes at the rest homes, and did lots of big dos at various halls.”
The group were the resident band at the Cosmopolitan Club and the RSA for years.
Bruce is philosophical when he reflects on his long life.
“It’s a long way back.
“It was a hard journey to make 100, but I got there and I think I have been successful.
“Along the way I’ve made a lot of friends, met a lot of good people and I’m happy with my life.”
His secrets to a long and happy life?
“Eat well and have a bit of everything in moderation.
“Don’t overdo things and don’t drink a whole lot of liquor and get yourself ill.
“Be passionate about the things you love to do.
“Everything I’ve loved to do I’ve done passionately.”
Bruce has two, in his words, “very good” caregivers Karyn Williams, who has looked after him for more than 11 years, and Rhonda Bryan-Corbett.
His live-in companion Mitzy, a four-year-old terrier cross, remains devoted to him.
Bruce celebrated his birthday with a special family luncheon at Mahia, which he said he was “looking forward to very much”.
