His mother, Joanna, won an incredible 17 national titles during an illustrious career while his father, Adam, was capped for Scotland.

His grandparents also played at club level so it was perhaps inevitable that Bruce ended up marrying a fellow player as well.

His wife Kirsty has been capped for Scotland twice.

Bruce, who lives in Lochgelly, was bidding for his ninth Scottish title at the weekend but was knocked out at the quarter-final stage losing to Kieran Merrilees, of Glasgow, in a thrilling men's singles match 21-19 17-21 21-12.

Now aged 34 and no longer a full-time player, he will likely never catch his mother's title total but he has won more singles titles, as Joanna pointed out.

''A lot of my trophies came in doubles and mixed events, and they don't count,'' she said. ''Bruce has won one more singles event than I did, and they are the main ones. It's like Wimbledon, nobody ever remembers who won the doubles.''

While his mother was winning a silver medal in the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Canada, a young Bruce was picking up a racket for the first time.

''He started playing at about 10 or 11,'' Joanna added. ''He was a late developer as a player and didn't win his first title until he was 17, and had his first full cap before he was 20.

''Badminton is a real family sport and it always amazes me how many sons and daughters of people I played with and against are involved today.''

Bruce went on to emulate his mother by appearing in a Commonwealth Games himself, winning a team bronze in Manchester 2002.
But while Joanna's career was ended by a serious knee injury, Bruce's decision to take a step back from the sport has been a voluntary one.

''I'm concentrating on coaching now and only really play for fun, although I still like to win,'' he said. ''I think I've still got another Scottish title in me but I just wasn't at the races at the weekend.''

His mother agreed, adding: ''If he really put his heart to it he could win another singles.''

And even if Bruce does not collect a ninth title, the Flockhart name could yet appear on a future roll of honour as his two sons, Calum, aged five, and 18-month-old Andrew, could follow their parents and grandparents onto the court.

''They've both picked up a racket already, even the wee one, but I'd rather they played a sport that earned them a bit more money,'' Joanna said.