Holding(s) in Company

Smith WH PLC
20 October 2003


                           SCHEDULE 10
 
             NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

     WH SMITH PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

     SILCHESTER INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS 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 BELOW 

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

     SEE BELOW 

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

     20 OCTOBER 2003

12)  Total holding following this notification

     38,373,757
               
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     15.36%

14)  Any additional information

     ORIGINAL LETTER OF NOTIFICATION FROM SILCHESTER DATED 27 MARCH 2003
     NOT RECEIVED BY COMPANY, HENCE DELAY IN NOTIFICATION

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

     I HOUGHTON
     COMPANY SECRETARY

     Date of Notification ....20 OCTOBER 2003....



Company:     WH Smith Limited          Address:  Nations House
                                                 103 Wigmore Street
                                                 London
                                                 W1H 0WH

Share Class: Ord

Issued
Shares:      249,899,308
                                         % of
SII                                      Class
Ownership:   38,373,757                  15.36        Date:  27th March 2003

SII Account       Nominee                  %       Share 
                                                 Holding        Voting Authority

GROUP             Northern Trust Co      4.35    10,867,618        YES

LICRF             Bankers Trust          0.18       438,000        YES

PATCH             Northern Trust Co      0.50     1,239,445        YES

SIEBT             Northern Trust Co      9.47    23,666,473        YES

TEXAS             Northern Trust Co      0.48     1,210,900        YES

TRUST             Northern Trust Co      0.38       951,321        YES

TOTAL                                            38,373,757


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