The Hobart Mercury of March 12, 1949 had this interesting article about Mr Woodward, previously principal at Mahinda College, Sri Lanka (1) who lived on the Tamar River in Tasmania and translated manuscripts written on Palm Leaves
Translating Original Buddhist Scriptures - Living in seclusion at the quiet West Tamar town of
Richmond Hill is an 80-year-old graduate of the Cambridge University, Mr. F. L. Woodward, who is translating and editing original Buddhist scriptures into English to replace those destroyed in England's blitz. For many years Mr. Woodward was principal of the Mahinda College at Gaile, Ceylon. His home, which is filled with books, on India and Buddhism, is surrounded by a neglected orchard.
Yesterday Mr. Woodward was thrilled by a visit from two teachers from Ceylon, who are touring Australia in educational research. They are Messrs. K. W. Diessanayaka, vice-principal of an Indian secondary school, and Lenel Lokuliyana, headmaster of a secondary school. They told a Launceston college of their intention to convey to Mr. Woodward the good wishes of the people of Ceylon, and thank him for his services to education.
The palm leaf manuscripts he is translating are tied with string through two holes punched in each leaf. The writing is carved, as Burmese and Cingalese who wrote the works used neither pen nor pencil. Mr. Woodward takes a daily stroll to Richmond Hill township to pick up his bread, milk, and mail. (2)
The Melbourne Herald picked up the story and two days later published a similar but slightly different article -
Translates Writings On Palm Leaves - A 79-year-old graduate of Cambridge university, Mr F. L. Woodward, is living in seclusion in a small seaside town on the West Tamar spending his time deciphering, translating and editing original palm leaf manuscripts written by Buddhist monks. He was visited last week by two teachers from Ceylon, whoare touring Australia in educational research. They are K. W. Diessanayaka and Lionel Lokuliyana, both of whom are studying at the Melbourne University for a Bachelor of Education degree.
Mr Woodward, who was principal of a Buddhist college in Ceylon, retired from teaching 27 years ago to live at Richmond Hill, on the Tamar. The orchard on his property is neglected as he has little time to spare from his original Buddhist scriptures, which he is preparing for publication to replace those destroyed during the blitz on Britain.
Mr Woodward, who was principal of a Buddhist college in Ceylon, retired from teaching 27 years ago to live at Richmond Hill, on the Tamar. The orchard on his property is neglected as he has little time to spare from his original Buddhist scriptures, which he is preparing for publication to replace those destroyed during the blitz on Britain.
The palm leaf manuscripts are tied with string through two punched holes in each leaf. The writing is carved because the Burmese and Cingalese who wrote the works used neither pen nor pencil. The Ceylon students took a message of good wishes to Mr Woodward from the people of Ceylon. (3)
A Palm leaf manuscript
Singhalese manuscript 143. Source: Wellcome Collection.
I had never heard of Palm Leaf manuscripts but came across the informative website of the Wellcome Collection, a free museum and library in London. On the website, Adrian Plau, has written an article -Stories of Asian palm-leaf manuscripts which commences with -
Palm-leaf manuscripts are one of humanity’s most ancient and widespread technologies for transmitting and preserving knowledge in written form. They are made from two types of palms: palmyra and talipot, both found in South and Southeast Asia. Palmyra palms have an enormous range of uses, from mats and thatching to hats and fans, in addition to making palm-leaf manuscripts. The talipot palm lives for around 60 years but flowers only once. Death follows soon after its lone blossoming, but the leaves of the tree are cooked and dried and take on a second life. Inscribed with a stylus and rubbed with ink, they become palm-leaf manuscripts. Read the rest of the well illustrated article here https://wellcomecollection.org/stories/stories-of-asian-palm-leaf-manuscripts
The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, part of the University of Manchester, have digitised thirty-two Sinhalese Manuscripts and they can be viewed here
Mr F. L.Woodward was Frank Lee Woodward (1871-1952). He was born on April 13, 1871, the third son of the Rev. William Woodward, who was the Rector of Catworth, Huntingdonshire and his wife Elizabeth Mary Ann (nee Lee). He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1893 from Cambridge University and taught at several schools and then from 1898 until 1903 he was Second Master at Stamford School in Stamford, Lincolnshire. He received his Master of Arts, also from Cambridge, in 1902 (4)
Frank Lee Woodward, M.A.
The Stamford School website has this information about Frank's career both there and at Mahinda College - Outside his teaching duties, Frank took up studying Western and Eastern philosophy. He even joined the Theosophical Society, where he became acquainted with Colonel Henry Steel Olcott (5), co-founder and President of the Society, who had founded the Mahinda Buddhist College in the city of Galle, Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka). In 1903, Frank was invited to go to Ceylon to become Principal of the College. His departure from Stamford School was regarded as a great loss by both the staff and pupils....The Mahinda Buddhist College was established in 1892, and still exists today. The school prospered under Frank’s leadership; the student body grew rapidly necessitating the move for the establishment to a more suitable location. Frank settled on one of the highest plots of land in Galle with a spectacular view of the Adam’s Peak mountain. Frank laid the foundation stone of the School hall on 15th January 1908, and the new building’s ceremonial opening took place on 1st August 1912. Whilst there he was also co-editor for the Ceylon National Review and The Buddhist magazines. Frank left Mahinda in 1919 after sixteen years. (6)
And this we find him living at Richmond Hill, although his address in the Electoral Roll is Rowella, apparently neglecting his orchard, but translating manuscripts written on Palm Leaves. His obituary notes that - Before his death, Oxford Press had published more than 25 books of his translations. (7) However, these translations were not his only activity - amongst other things he played the organ at the Anglican Church in nearby Beaconsfield and he was the Patron of both the Rowella Cricket Club and Rowella Football Club. (8) Frank died on May 27, 1952, at the age of 81 and is buried in the Carr Villa Memorial Park in Launceston. (9)
Footnotes
(1) Mahinda College https://www.mahindacollege.lk/about
(2) Hobart Mercury, March 12, 1949, see here.
(3) The Herald, March 14, 1949, see here.
(4) Stamford School website - https://stamfordschools.org.uk/news/history-of-frank-woodward-second-master-1898-1903; from Ancestry.com - England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 and Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900
(5) Colonel Henry Steel Olcott - Founder of the Theosophical Society with Madame Helene Blavatsky. We have written about them and the Theosophical Society in our book - Enchanted beneath the bluff : Agnes & Geraldine's pursuit of Elwood's elusive black diamonds by Isaac Douglas Hermann and Heather Andrea Arnold, published in 2023.
(6) Stamford School website - https://stamfordschools.org.uk/news/history-of-frank-woodward-second-master-1898-1903
(7) Obituary - Launceston Examiner, May 29, 1952, see here.
(8) Launceston Examiner - December 4, 1928, see here and June 17, 1930, see here; Launceston Examiner, September 13, 1949, see here; Hobart Mercury, April 11, 1950, see here.
(9) Death notice - Launceston Examiner, May 29, 1952, see here.
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