Appointment

Wolseley PLC
2 October 2000






                                 NEWS RELEASE

                                2 October 2000




Wolseley plc announces that Mr Fenton N Hord, Chief Executive of Carolina
Holdings Inc, Wolseley's US lumber distribution operation, has been appointed
to the Wolseley Board with immediate effect. Mr Hord has been Chief Executive
of Carolina since 1987. Since that time, Carolina's sales have grown from $113
million to nearly $2.2 billion and the profits have increased more than twelve
times. Mr Hord will retain responsibility for Wolseley's US lumber
distribution operation, which accounts for approximately 21% of the sales of
the Wolseley group.


In commenting on Mr Hord's appointment, Richard Ireland, Group Executive
Chairman, said, 'I am delighted to announce Fenton's appointment to the
Wolseley Board. During his tenure, Carolina Holdings has become the number one
distributor of lumber and related products in the US to the professional
contractor. During the last few years, Fenton has done an outstanding job of
growing the business by expanding the range of goods and services it provides
and extending the geographic coverage from the East to the West coast of the
USA. I have no doubt that he will make a very significant contribution to the
Wolseley group over the coming years'.



                                  ENQUIRIES:


                     Richard Ireland - Executive Chairman

                    Wolseley plc - Telephone [phone]


                        Tony Knox - Financial Dynamics

                           Telephone [phone]


                               www.wolseley.com