Victoria Bruce

Victoria Alexandrina Katherine Bruce (1898–1951) was a British prison administrator. She was born on 13 September 1898 at Kennet House in Clackmannan, Scotland. Her father was Alexander Hugh Bruce, the 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh, and her mother was Lady Katherine Eliza Gordon.

Bruce developed an interest in social work early in her career. Between 1928 and 1931, she volunteered as a librarian in the boys' wing of HM Prison Wandsworth. Following this, she was appointed as a Probation Officer within the juvenile courts in London.

In 1937, Bruce was appointed deputy governor of Aylesbury Borstal, an institution focused on rehabilitative training for young offenders. Subsequent to this role, she moved to Manchester to serve as deputy governor of Strangeways prison.

In 1943, she became governor of the women's borstal at Aylesbury, where she implemented a 'house' system inspired by English public schools. This approach aimed to facilitate discipline and rehabilitation among incarcerated women.

In 1946, Bruce was appointed as the governor of Duke Street Prison in Glasgow. Her appointment marked a significant milestone in the history of Scottish correctional institutions, as she became the first woman to be appointed governor of a Scottish women's prison.

Victoria Bruce died on 25 November 1951 at her quarters within Duke Street Prison. She was laid to rest in her native Scotland, at Clackmannan.