IT'S 40 or 50 years since retired businessman Sam Faber heard from his globe-trotting doctor friend from Rainford.

But he still often thinks about Dr R. J. G. Hogg and wonders whether he is still alive after a career dedicated to the World Health Organisation.

Sam himself is an incredible 86-year-old who lives at Poulton-le-Fylde and takes a daily bicycle ride up and down the Blackpool prom.

And through a St Helens friend he's put out a plea for any information about Dr Hogg. He hopes that members of the medical man's family or any of his old friends can oblige.

For Sam, from Wendover Avenue, Carleton, Poulton-le-Fylde, is hoping to piece together a picture of what happened to the pioneering doctor whom he last heard of in 1953 through a WHO publication.

A prominent feature article within its pages (he still treasures this edition) incorporates a large photograph of the good doctor, working in Borneo, administering injections to the shy, silent forest-dwellers of Sarawak.

Dr Hogg was then the government medical officer seconded to a malaria fighting team.

That newspaper picture represents the final image of his old friend for Sam, a retired hotelier and professional aquarist. He believes, however, that Dr Hogg may have eventually retired to live somewhere beyond Carlisle.

Retired Triplex worker Roy Pilling from Wythburn Crescent, Clinkham Wood, has brought Sam's request into focus.

Roy spends each weekend in Blackpool where he met and became chummy with the remarkable octogenarian, who has just treated himself to a new multi-geared mountain bike.

Says Roy: "Sam would love to hear any news of his old friend and would be especially delighted if he should prove to be still alive so that the pair could get back in touch."

ANYONE able to help could drop me a line at the Star or ring Sam on 01253 885511.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.