The by-election was caused by the elevation of the sitting Conservative MP, Rt Hon.
Tiverton had been won by the Conservatives at every election since 1924 when they gained the seat from the Liberals.
The result at the last General Election was as follows; The Conservatives selected 29-year-old Robin Maxwell-Hyslop.
He was Personal Assistant to the director and general manager of the aero engine division of Rolls-Royce from 1954 to 1960.
Maxwell-Hyslop and Collier faced each other again at the following General Election while Dobson moved to contest Bristol North East, where he came second.