He was educated at the Duke of York's Royal Military School, Dover and Exeter University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in theology in 1970.
[5] Jones was also Chair of Council at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, when the college suffered much publicity because of allegations of bullying against its principal, Richard Turnbull.
The majority of the academic staff left the college and wrote to the Church Times expressing grave dissatisfaction at the failure of the council (under Jones as chair) to allow mediation and address substantive issues.
[10][11] In December 2009 it was announced that Jones would chair the panel relating to the Hillsborough Disaster in which eventually saw 97 Liverpool football fans died.
[10] Jones was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to bereaved families and justice.