Director Shareholding

Smith WH PLC
5 November 2003

Letter to RNS

WH Smith PLC (the 'company')

WH Smith Employees' Share Trust 1999 (the 'Trust')

In accordance with Chapter 16 Paragraph 13 of the Listing Rules, notification
is hereby given that:-

On 3 November 2003 the Trustee of the above Trust, Mourant & Co. Trustees
Limited, purchased 141,315 Ordinary Shares of 55 5/9 pence each ('Shares') at an
average price of 353.82 pence per share. The Company was notified of this
transaction today. As a result of this transaction the Trust now holds 6,682,660
Shares (2.67% of the issued Class).

The Trust is a discretionary trust and is used to facilitate the acquisition of
shares for the purpose of satisfying awards and options granted under the
Company's share schemes.

The following directors of the Company, being potential beneficiaries of the
Trust, are considered to be interested in these shares:

R G Handover
T M Hely Hutchinson
Ms B C Hodson
Ms K Swann
J A Warren

Letter from WH Smith PLC
 


                       SCHEDULE 11

     NOTIFICATION OF INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND CONNECTED 
                        PERSONS


1)  NAME OF COMPANY

    SMITH WH PLC

2)  NAME OF DIRECTOR

     K SWANN

3)  Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of
    holding of the shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a
    non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder
    if it is a holding of that person's spouse or children under the
    age of 18 or in respect of an non-beneficial interest

      IN RESPECT OF THE DIRECTOR

4)  Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the
    number of shares held by each of them. (If notified)

      N/A

5)  Please state whether notification relates to a person(s) connected
    with the Director named in 2 above and identify the connected person(s)

      N/A

6)  Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions
    please indicate whether general/single co PEP and if discretionary/non
    discretionary

     CONDITIONAL AWARD OF SHARES

7)  Number of shares/amount of
    stock acquired

     141,315

8)  Percentage of issued Class

      0.056%

9)  Number of shares/amount
    of stock disposed



10) Percentage of issued Class



11) Class of security

     ORDINARY SHARES OF 55
     5/9 PENCE EACH

12) Price per share

      N/A

13) Date of transaction

     4 NOVEMBER 2003

14) Date company informed

     4 NOVEMBER 2003

15) Total holding following this notification

      N/A

16) Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

      N/A

     IF A DIRECTOR HAS BEEN GRANTED OPTIONS BY THE COMPANY PLEASE
                    COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING BOXES

17) Date of grant



18) Period during which or date on which exercisable



19) Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the option



20) Description of shares or debentures involved: class, number.



21) Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) or indication that price
    is to be fixed at time of exercise



22) Total number of shares or debentures over which options held
    following this notification



23) Any additional information



24) Name of contact and telephone number for queries

     AMANDA LAM [phone]

25) Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for
    making this notification

    Date of Notification                                 






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