<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-07-18</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000105770</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>(WST)</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
		<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213306</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOREL DONALD E JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>Chair of the Board, Pres &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common Stock</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-07-18</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>23.0499</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>25.0300</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>A</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>1470.7731</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>I</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value>Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan</value>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Reflects additional shares purchased through dividend reinvestments based on most recent plan statement.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Joanne K. Boyle  As Agent for Donald E. Morel, Jr.</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-07-21</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0101
4
2003-07-18
0
0000105770
WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES INC
(WST)
0001213306
MOREL DONALD E JR
0
1
0
0
Chair of the Board, Pres & CEO
Common Stock
2003-07-18
4
A
0
23.0499
25.0300
A
1470.7731
I
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan
Reflects additional shares purchased through dividend reinvestments based on most recent plan statement.
By: Joanne K. Boyle  As Agent for Donald E. Morel, Jr.
2003-07-21