Researching Paul Sample

Sample played in the British National League for the Milton Keynes Kings, Cardiff Devils and the Dundee Stars in his early years before leaving the UK to train at the famous Athol Murray College of Notre Dame at the age of 14. Sample trained and played at Notre Dame for 4 years before signing for the Boston Harbourwolves when he was 18 years old.

He returned to the UK to the Elite League with the Belfast Giants in 2003, scoring 18 goals and 40 points in 61 games. Sample won a number of accolades with the Belfast Giants including Most Valuable Player and Player of the Season. After one season in Belfast, Sample signed with the Sheffield Steelers where his offensive numbers were greatly shortened, scoring just 4 goals and 9 points in 59 games. Despite this, Sample stayed with the Steelers for a second season before rejoining the Cardiff Devils who were now members of the Elite League. With 13 goals and 31 points in the 2006–07, Sample was on target to return to his high-scoring day with Belfast, until he suffered a knee injury during the 07–08 season which kept him out for the remainder of the season and effectively ended his spell with the Devils. In 2008, Sample re-signed with the Giants.

On 27 May 2009, Sample retired from hockey to pursue other interests, but he would then come out of retirement and sign for his hometown team the Newcastle Vipers on 18 May 2010 for the 2010–11 season. At the conclusion of the season however, the Vipers folded and Sample retired for a second time.

He trained at Bradford College of Art and at the Central School of Art and Design in London, where he studied graphic arts. As a student, he landed commissions from The Times and The Sunday Times, the Daily Telegraph and Today, for which he designed and drew "The Zodiac Files’" strip cartoon. His first commission was for Management Today in 1968, for which he was paid £45. He went on to do freelance work for Melody Maker, Rockstar, Men Only and Skateboard magazines.

Inspired by Marvel comics, he created Ogri in 1967, and the character was first published in Bike magazine. “The first strip cartoon was based on my own experience of driving up the M1 at 90mph on a Rocket Goldstar and wondering what the rattle was,” recalls Paul. “Most people think Ogri is about biking but it’s not, it’s about life in general. The inspiration for the stories comes from riding my bike, talking to people in the pub or seeing things on the news." Ogri appeared in Bike magazine for 35 years until January 2009, when it was dropped but then taken up by Back Street Heroes (BSH), a custom motorcycle magazine. In 1995 he illustrated the bestselling book about the motor trade Four Wheels to a Fortune.

Several compilation cartoon books have been published in the UK. Sample also produces Ogri-related memorabilia, including T-shirts, coffee mugs, posters, greetings cards, and badges. The Paul Sample archive, including many original Ogri strips along with other original artwork, was auctioned in Shrewsbury in January 2010. There is also an Ogri Motorcycle Club, founded in 1978 in Germany when all the members were serving in the Army or RAF.