Holding(s) in Company

Smith WH PLC
12 November 2003


                           SCHEDULE 10
 
             NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

     WH SMITH PLC


2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

     THE TRUSTEES OF BT PENSION SCHEME
     BRITEL FUND TRUSTEES LIMITED


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

     SEE LETTER BELOW DATED 12 NOVEMBER 2003


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

     SEE LETTER BELOW DATED 12 NOVEMBER 2003


5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

     N/A


6)   Percentage of issued Class


7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

     N/A


8)   Percentage of issued Class


9)   Class of security

     ORDINARY SHARES OF 55 5/9 PENCE EACH


10)  Date of transaction

     N/A


11)  Date company informed

     12 NOVEMBER 2003


12)  Total holding following this notification

     10,096,120

               
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     4.030%


14)  Any additional information

     

15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

     AMANDA LAM [phone]


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

     J A WARREN


     Date of Notification
     
     12 NOVEMBER 2003


Letter to W H Smith PLC
Dated     November 12, 2003


                  DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL INTEREST IN SHARES

                    COMPANIES ACT 1985     SECTION 198

Issued Capital:     250,529,272

As at November 11, 2003 the following entities had a material interest(s) in 
shares of:     W H Smith PLC

The Trustees of BT Pension Scheme
BriTel Fund Trustees Limited

Registered Holders:     BriTel Fund Nominees Ltd     662,905 shares    0.265%
                        Chase Nominees Ltd (note)  3,433,215 shares    3.766%

Amount of shares on loan/returned:                         0 shares    0.000%

                        Direct Holding:           10,096,120 shares    4.031%

NB. Amount of shares on loan are deducted from Britel's holding, to amount to 
the direct holding.

Hermes Focus Asset Management Limited, as general partners of various 
partnerships managed by Hermes SLP Limited Lens Investors (UK) LCC

As partner in one or more of the partnerships

Registered Holder:      Chase Nominees Ltd         8,473,779 shares    3.363%

Hermes Focus Asset Management Limited and Hermes SLP Limited are both 
subsidiaries of Hermes Pensions Management Limited which is ultimately owned by 
BriTel Fund Trustees Limited, a company controlled by the trustees of the BT 
Pension Scheme.

Note: This notifiable interest arises either as controller of Hermes Focus Asset 
Management Limited and/or Hermes SLP Limited and/or as a partner in one or more 
of the partnerships.

Fax from Hermes Administration Services Limited.


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