Hailed a "local hero" by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and made an African chief in Garstang's twin town, New Koforidua, Ghana, Bruce has now been invited to be an assessor for a United Nations award aimed at encouraging long-standing friendships between Wales and Africa.
Bruce was one of five specialists in international friendship chosen for the assessors' panel to honour Welsh towns which have made big strides in global links, under a scheme inspired by the Fairtrade Towns movement he started.
Bruce and his fellow assessors chose the linked communities of Pontypridd (Wales) and Mbale (Uganda), and Amlwch (Wales) and Sankwia (Gambia) for Gold Star community awards, which are being piloted in Wales for the United Nations.
The presentations were made by Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan and UN anti-poverty champion Edith Wakumire of Uganda at the recent Cardiff Eisteddford, at which Bruce was one of the guests.
Mr Morgan said: "The scheme is not about propogating charity or aid, it is about building friendships, equal partnerships and solidarity with other continents and cultures."
Bruce said: "It was an honour and a privilege to sit on the Gold Star community awards panel. This is the start of a worldwide movement that will recognise North-South community links that provide enormous benefits to both communities."
He added he hoped that one day Garstang's link with New Koforidua might be recognised in the same way.