Wynn Hugh-Jones was born on 1 November 1923, son of Huw Hugh-Jones and May Normington. He was educated at Ludlow [Shropshire] and Selwyn College, University of, Cambridge. In 1958 he married (1st), Ann (née Purkiss), having one son and two daughters; they were divorced in 1987 and Hugh-Jones then married (2nd), Oswynne (née Buchanan).

After serving in the Royal Air Force, (1943-46) Hugh-Jones entered the Diplomatic Service in 1947 and his career included the following posts: Foreign Office, (1947-49); Jedda [Saudi Arabia] (1949-52); Paris [France] (1952-56); Foreign Office, (1956-59); Chargé d’Affaires, Conakry [Guinea], (1959-60); Head of Chancery, Rome [Italy], (1960-64); FO, (1964-66), Counsellor, (1964); Consul, Elizabethville [later Lubumbashi, Congo] (1966-68); Counsellor and Head of Chancery, Ottawa [Canada], (1968-70); Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (1971), attached to the Lord President’s Office; Cabinet Office, (1972-73); Director-General, English-Speaking Union, (1973-77); Secretary-General, Liberal Party, (1977-83); Joint Honorary Treasurer, Liberal Party, (1984-87). Hugh-Jones died on 5 July 2019.