Director Shareholding

Smith WH PLC
18 November 2002


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 15 November 2002 the Trustee of the above Trust, Mourant & Co. Trustees 
Limited, purchased 260,000 Ordinary Shares of 55 5/9 pence each ('Shares') at an 
average price of 381.89 pence per share. The Company was notified of this 
transaction on 15 November 2002. As a result of this transaction the Trust now
holds 4,368,909 Shares (1.74% 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 executive 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
J A Warren

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