MB ChB Manch 1935; LRCP LRCS Edin, LRFPS Glas 1935.
Kelly studied medicine at the University of Manchester and was surgical research fellow there in 1937, probably after a year spent as house surgeon at MRI. Kelly was also assistant medical officer at Withington Hospital Manchester and assistant director of the David Lewis Epileptic Colony before being appointed to the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. Kelly was a member of MMS and was president of the Medical Contact Lens Association. Kelly later became consultant ophthalmic surgeon to Bath Hospital Group.