After teacher-training Bruce was appointed by Essex County Council in charge of music in a newly opened secondary boys' school in Harold Hill. Having seen the first intake through until they left, he decided that a mixed school might offer new opportunities and moved to Ingatestone Secondary School, which in those days had about 450 pupils. He soon established an annual Gilbert and Sullivan production. When these singers left school many of them continued to sing with his four-part Youth Centre Choir, which met in the evenings.

In 1964 this group was invited to join Ingatestone Choral Society in a combined concert, Bruce sharing the conducting with Alf Witney. When Alf retired in 1969 Bruce was asked to become their regular conductor and has been with them ever since, as conductor and as a tenor during five years when Martyn Heald conducted.

Bruce has always welcomed the opportunity to join with other choirs in combined performances and is Chairman of the Essex Musical Association.

Martyn read Classics at Durham University where he was organist and choirmaster of St. John's College and organist at Cranmer Hall. As organ scholar, he received lessons on the Cathedral organ from Conrad Eden.

In 1966 Martyn began his teaching career in Classics at The Campion School Hornchurch. There, and later at Bancroft's School, Woodford Green, he was much in demand in their busy music departments as accompanist to choirs and soloists.

Martyn has served as accompanist to Ingatestone Choral Society since 1986, having conducted the choir for five years before that. He also accompanied Billericay Choral Society for many years and is official accompanist for the Essex Musical Association.

Since retirement from teaching, Martyn is enjoying being busier than ever as accompanist, and as organist in local churches. Martyn also sings with the Bach Choir in London and locally with the Vesper Singers.