Bruce was born in Shaftesbury Dorset in 1953, the eldest of Ivor and Ada Scammells’ three children. He had two brothers Owen and Lance, but tragically Lance the youngest died when he was only 21 years old, leaving the family devastated. Bruce went to schools in Shaftesbury and Gillingham, before moving to Hamworthy with his family at the age of thirteen. He now went to Herbert Carter School where he met the girl he was going to marry, Sue, she was and still is the love of his life. Whilst still at Herbert Carter Bruce became part of a group called the Mimics in which he played the guitar. On leaving school he did an engineering apprenticeship with Hamworthy Engineering and ended up in the drawing office. He also worked as a draughtsman at Winfrith and another company in Poole before changing tack and going into the insurance business. After working a few years for first Pearl and then Legal & General, Bruce started up his own very successful Financial Advisors business in Hamworthy. Sue and Bruce got married in June 1975 and have two children Marc and Alison, who now have children of their own. Bruce in his younger days played football for Lagland Street whilst Marc his son played for Hamworthy United Youth and Reserve teams.
It is over thirty years ago since Bruce first joined Hamworthy United Football Club, and since then he has become very much a part of it. Apart from being a major sponsor over the years he has held various senior positions. These include being one of the Club’s Trustees, their Chairman (often in more difficult times) and our President, a position he still holds today. At the time of Bruce’s arrival the Hammers were a mid-table team playing in the Dorset Combination League with little hope of promotion. Due to their finances they were unable to compete with the likes of Shaftesbuy, Parley etc., who were paying their players. This began to change gradually when Bruce started to sponsor the kit. He also helped get other business friends to do the same. Without doubt this and the opening of the new clubhouse meant United could now attract better players and win the League in 2003 under Sean Barlett. The following year they won again this time gaining promotion to the Wessex League and won the League cup under Alex Pike and Chairman Bruce Scammell. Bruce helped the Club get a team bus and a crop sprayer to water the pitch, amongst other things. Bruce’s connections with the local councillors were invaluable when things got difficult with our landlords the D.C.F.A. and Poole Town F.C. One thing Bruce does know how to do and that is to celebrate. He is always the first to lead the celebrations in the bar afterwards. This usually includes a Brucie Bonus (a free pint for each of the team) much to the delight of the players’.
Bruce is a very generous man who has dedicated a lot of his time, effort and money in making sure that Hamworthy United Football Club has become, and still is one that we can all be proud of. He will always be held in the highest regard by anybody past or present who have been connected to this Club.
Bruce another true H.U.F.C. Legend.
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