[1] Aged 14, Bunce left school and began work as a printer's apprentice with the Midland Counties Herald, a newspaper.

The Gazette followed a tory line and Bunce was increasingly of a liberal persuasion, eventually resigning after hearing an address by John Bright.

He resigned his positions in Liberal Party organizations in 1886, during internal disputes over Irish home rule, but lent his support to the imperial policies of Joseph Chamberlain in 1888.

[1] He advocated for the foundation of the Birmingham Municipal School of Art,[1] and spoke in favour of both education and "free and open" careers for women.

He had been due to be given an enamelled silver commemorative casket, created by Florence Camm and Violet Holden, to mark his being granted the freedom of the city of Birmingham on 21 March 1899.