Bert Bruce looked like the rugby forward he had been. Well built with a fine carriage, he bore himself with a proud and commanding air all his life. He remains one of the relatively few Aberdonians to have been capped for Scotland.
An outstanding scholar of Robert Gordon's College, he won the school's Otaki Shield, a feat which traditionally carries with it a trip to New Zealand. But war put paid to any chance of a visit. Instead, he took a commission in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, and in post-war years remained a keen member of the TA, reaching the rank of major.
He keenly felt the loss of his hard-won prize Down Under, but rectified the matter in later life by visiting New Zealand. Always retaining a soft spot for that land, he named his Aberdeen home ''Otaki''.
Bert Bruce was noted for his determination. As one of his friends recalled: ''His determination to succeed was his greatest attribute. Anything he tackled was done with determination.''
That talent saw him gain the eye of the selectors on the rugby field. Few players from north of Dundee reach international honours but Bert did, gaining four caps for Scotland in 1947-48 in three scrum positions - front row, second row, and wing forward - and, in so doing, became the first
Gordonian to gain a cap. His example helped the game in north Scotland to flourish, for joining him in international honours were fellow Aberdonians Donnie Innes and Dallas Allardice, followed shortly afterwards by Doug Smith and Donald MacDonald.
Two decades were to pass before another Aberdonian was capped, and once again he was a Gordonian, Ian McCrae. A proud and active former pupil of his old school, this was a matter of particular pleasure to Bert in his time as president of the Gordonian Association.
The son of a postman from Woodside, Bert (known as Bob in army and banking circles) joined Aberdeen Savings Bank at age 18 and soon made his mark. Appointed manager of the Stornoway branch in 1952, he got round the lack of the oval ball game by founding Stornoway Rugby Club. Wherever he went, he greatly contributed to the game, for many years being north district secretary of the Scottish Rugby Union. Outside sport, he was a keen churchman, being session clerk of Mannofield Parish Church for a dozen years.
As a banker, he early on caught the eye of his superiors, one of whom later remarked: ''If bankers are always seen as circumspect, that didn't apply to Bob. He moved freely in any company.'' In his later years his wider interests saw him enter the hotel trade while still a banker in 1972.
He died just three days short of his 79th birthday, and is survived by Marion, his wife of 54 years, and daughter Marilyn.
Robert Mitchell Bruce TD; born June 19, 1922, died June 16, 2001
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