Husband of PC Kelly Smith pays tribute to wife

1 September 2025

Retired Sergeant Colin Phipps said Kelly loved her family and her job, and would ‘do anything for anyone’.

His words come after Kelly sadly died on Friday 15 August, following a long illness, leaving behind Colin and their eight-year-old son Jacob.

“She was a fantastic mother to our son, Jacob, a stepmother to my two daughters and grandmother to their children,” said Colin, who retired after 30 years’ service.

Officer Kelly Smith.

“Nothing was too much for her – she’d do anything for anyone.

“And she absolutely adored her job.”

Kelly joined North Yorkshire Police in 2002, serving in Scarborough and then in the Operational Support Unit in Malton.

Known for her professionalism, compassion and unwavering dedication to her colleagues, she was a respected figure across the force.

Colin recalled how Kelly, though not interested in rank, was a natural leader.

Advice

“She’s the only person I know of who was made acting sergeant without any exams, even though there were others on the shift with their exams, because she was so capable,” he said.

“Even newly promoted sergeants went to her for advice.

“She knew the job inside out and was really good at it.

“But she wasn’t interested in promotion. All she cared about was her team, whoever that happened to be.”

The couple first met while on duty. Colin’s team had executed a warrant and needed a female officer to assist with the search. Kelly was that officer.

Brew

Colin recalled a separate occasion when Kelly came to his aid.

“My car was clamped for unpaid parking tickets at the back of the nick,” he said.

“Kelly gave me a lift home, I invited her in for a brew, and from then on it was a friendship that blossomed.”

That was in 2010, and they became civil partners earlier this month (3 August) in a ceremony at home surrounded by family.

“What started out as a paper exercise turned into one of the best days of my life,” Colin said. “Despite her illness, Kelly’s eyes lit up that day. She was absolutely buzzing.”

Colin also paid tribute to St Catherine’s Hospice, where Kelly spent her final days.

Flowers

“They made her comfortable,” said Colin, who has asked for donations to the hospice in lieu of flowers.

“Nothing was too much trouble - they really cared for her.”

Colin added that the many tributes to Kelly had been a source of comfort to him and their family.

“The massive impact she must have had on people,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

In accordance with her wishes, a humanist service will be held at 1pm on 2 September to celebrate Kelly’s life.

The service will be live-streamed for people who are unable to attend. To join, login at watch.obitus.com with the username culu8284 and password 271127