John Hughes grew up in Pinner, Middlesex. He had piano lessons from Hetty Monday. After leaving school he worked at the BBC for four years, mainly in the Music Library. During this time he gained his LRAM and ARCM piano diplomas and sang in the Bach Choir. He then went to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, studying for his MA in music and where his organ teacher was Dr. Douglas Fox. Following on from this John went to Bristol University where he studied for his Certificate in Education and gained a distinction in Classroom teaching.

He came to Malmesbury in 1967 where he was appointed Head of Music at Malmesbury School and conducted the Malmesbury Singers for many years. He has been Organist and Choirmaster of Malmesbury Abbey since 1975. John has composed and arranged music for choir and organ including a Eucharist setting, used at most of the 10.30 Sunday Communion services in the Abbey, and choral settings of poems written by Olive Malcolm, a poet in the choir. Most recently John has composed a new setting of Psalm 150.

In 2021 John was awarded the Certificate of Special Service by the RSCM, and is soon to celebrate 50 years as Organist and Choirmaster of Malmesbury Abbey.