MB ChB Manch 1946; FFA RCS Eng 1954; DA Eng 1951.
Kelsall was born in Monton, Lancashire and studied at Manchester Medical School. After qualifying, Kelsall was house surgeon at Salford Royal Hospital before serving in the RAMC. In 1949 Kelsall was appointed junior registrar in anaesthetics at Hope Hospital Salford, and then was registrar in anaesthetics for West Manchester Hospital Group and later at MRI. In 1953 Kelsall was appointed senior registrar in anaesthetics at MRI. He later became a part-time consultant anaesthetist to Southport and North Liverpool Hospital Groups. Kelsall was a member of MMS (Section of Anaesthetics) and a fellow of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain.