The by-election was caused by the death of the sitting Labour MP, Glenvil Hall, on 13 October 1962.
Wainwright was a chartered accountant, educated at Shrewsbury School and Clare College, Cambridge.
However, unlike by-elections held late in the previous year, none of the candidates paid a deposit, and so they secured their release without appearing on the ballot paper.
[5] The election campaign was a long one, with polling day not taking place until five months after the death of the previous MP.
The main themes of Wainwright's Liberal campaign were State Pensions being tied to the cost of living index, creating a new Ministry of Employment, and no more nationalisation.