Biography
Born on 29 November 195? close to the wild Atlantic winds of Scotland, Hugh “Shuggie” McNeil’s life has been an unfolding ballad of rhythm, discipline and rough‑hewn beauty.
In the late 1960s and early ’70s his bass lines underpinned chart‑topping singles by UK pop‑rock outfits including White Plains and Marmalade, sharing stages with the legendary vocalist Tony Burrows and many more.
The wanderlust of a young mariner then drew him into the Merchant Navy, where he learned the quiet virtues of teamwork, graft and respect for the elements—virtues that would later echo in every stone he laid.
Since the turn of the millennium Shuggie has swapped tour buses for wheelbarrows, becoming the go‑to master stonemason across Wansford, Stibbington and the surrounding Cambridgeshire limestone country. From the ancient buttresses of St Mary’s Church to the welcoming walls of the Cross Keys and Paper Mills pubs, right down to the moorings of Stibbington Marina, you’ll struggle to find a chiselled block of stone that hasn’t felt his calloused hands.
A tireless craftsman, fierce advocate for truth and loyal friend, Shuggie enjoys the simpler flavours of life: a roll‑your‑own, a can of lager and, when evening falls over the Ouse valley, a contemplative pipe of “fine herbal remedy”.
“Stone remembers. Each tap of the chisel holds a story—just like every note of a song.” — Shuggie
Photo Gallery
Local Landmarks
- Wansford St Mary’s Church – tower buttress repairs & lime‑pointing
- The Cross Keys, Wansford – mullioned window surrounds & garden wall
- Paper Mills Pub – riverside terrace & boundary wall
- Stibbington Marina – dry‑stone perimeter, mooring steps & quay fascia
Tributes & Anecdotes
“If you need a wall to stand for another century, you call Shuggie.” — Local resident
“He laid every block like it was the bass line of a top‑ten hit.” — Former bandmate
Get in Touch
Messages of appreciation, memories or booking enquiries can be sent to his postal nook on the river:
Hugh McNeilStibbington Marina / Sibson Lake
Peterborough PE8 6LS
United Kingdom
(Letters preferred over e‑mail—Shuggie still trusts paper more than pixels.)