The Grangemouth woman who called Bette Davis her friend

Olive Geddes, who died earlier this month aged 95, was a quiet spoken spinster who lived and worked in Grangemouth her entire life.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

However, many people would be surprised to learn that one of her closest friends was the iconic American actress Bette Davis.

Their extraordinary friendship spanned 50 years and saw the pair regularly correspond by letter as well as meeting on many occasions.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The actress known as "the First Lady of the American Screen" was famous for her celebrated temper, but she warmed to the words written by Olive, a former Co-op worker and cashier, even arranging for the Scot to join her at a luxury hotel in London.

Olive Geddes of Grangemouth was a friend of Bette Davis for over 50 yearsOlive Geddes of Grangemouth was a friend of Bette Davis for over 50 years
Olive Geddes of Grangemouth was a friend of Bette Davis for over 50 years

What began with a simple fan letter written in 1939 blossomed into a friendship, with meetings on the island of Mull, in Edinburgh and London.

It was a chance visit to the cinema in 1939 for a double bill of a Claudette Colbert film and The Sisters, starring Bette Davis and Errol Flynn, which sparked Olive’s interest in the actress.

She later travelled to Glasgow and Edinburgh to catch the latest films, previously admitting “I couldn’t wait on them coming to Falkirk”, as well as buying Picturegoer Magazine for two pence for articles on the star and her Hollywood lifestyle.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In an interview with The Falkirk Herald ten years ago, Olive recalled: "I started to write to her care of Warner Brothers Studios and got a signed photograph back. I don't know what made her start to write back to me personally, but perhaps it was because I used to give her a critique of every new film. And, if there was something I didn't like, then I would tell her."

Olive Geddes and Bette Davis during one of their many meetingsOlive Geddes and Bette Davis during one of their many meetings
Olive Geddes and Bette Davis during one of their many meetings

Ms Geddes first saw the star in person in 1963 when the star flew to London, but eight years later the pair finally met when Davis filmed Madame Sin on the island of Mull, and contacted her to arrange a meeting at the local hotel.

"We were just standing there waiting and I realised that, after writing to each other for more than 30 years, we were finally going to meet. I could hardly believe it when she walked up to the reception desk.

"She then turned round, saw us and came across to speak. We all went downstairs to the bar to chat.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I was scared that I would get tongue-tied when I met her, so had three questions that I wanted to ask - I can't remember what they were now.

"I thought that we would chat for about ten minutes but three hours later we went back to the reception and all these film people were standing about, wondering who was keeping Miss Davis from her dinner. And, despite it being a howling gale, she came outside to wave us off."

Her next meeting with the star was to be when the actress brought her one-woman show to Edinburgh and she was summoned by telegram to meet her at the capital's Caledonian Hotel. She had even arranged for a room to be made available for her Scottish friend and was bemused when Olive said she could not accept the kind offer because she had to get home to see to her cat.

However, in 1975 the pair were to have a longer meeting - and one the Scotswoman would never forget. Miss Davis was appearing at the London Palladium and asked if Olive could get there. She said: "I told her I had relatives in London and would stay with them, but she replied that I was to have accommodation on her floor in the hotel."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This turned out to be the Grosvenor in Park Lane and Olive was shown to the penthouse floor where she admitted that she had a wonderful time.

The actress, who was known for her mood swings and tough talking, appeared to really appreciate the friendship and in one letter wrote “Olive, How can I tha nk you for years of loyalty? Love, Bette Davis”.

The much-anticipated letters from America suddenly stopped in 1989 and Olive was told by a neighbour that Miss Davis had died, after hearing a news report on the radio.

Over a decade later she still fondly recalled the conservations between the unlikely friends and treasured much of the memorabilia she had collected of Bette Davis.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

When asked if the star had ever given her a gift, she replied simply: "She gave me the gift of friendship."

And it was to be a friendship that Olive never forgot.

However, her story in The Falkirk Herald led to another Bette Davis fan spotting her and remembered that she had met Olive 44 years before when the actress was in Edinburgh.

She managed to track her down to Grangemouth and would visit her every week, where they would talk about the screen star.

Olive continued to live in her Haig Street home in the port town, however in March 2016 she had a fall in her front garden, breaking two bones in her neck.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Niece Deborah Hatfield recalled: “They did not hold out much hope for her, but she proved them all wrong.

"Her neck healed, but she had been in bed for nine months.“In July 2017 she was allowed back to her house, with a hospital bed in her living room and with four visits a day from Montana staff. Her neighbour Anne had been a rock during all this and took on much of Olive's care by shopping, cooking and doing her washing.”

Sadly it became apparent that Olive couldn’t remain at home and in June 2018 she moved to Caledonian Court in Larbert.

On November 11, she peacefully passed away in her sleep, five weeks after her 95th birthday.

Her funeral takes place on Friday at Falkirk Crematorium.