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

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-06-30</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000105770</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>(WST)</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
		<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205317</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>YOUNG ROBERT C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<derivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Phantom Stock Unit</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<value>0.00</value>
		</conversionOrExercisePrice>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-06-30</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>373.06</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>0</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>A</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<exerciseDate>
			<value>1988-08-08</value>
			<footnoteId id="F1"/>
		</exerciseDate>
		<expirationDate>
			<value>1988-08-08</value>
			<footnoteId id="F1"/>
		</expirationDate>
		<underlyingSecurity>
			<underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</underlyingSecurityTitle>
			<underlyingSecurityShares>
				<value>373.06</value>
			</underlyingSecurityShares>
		</underlyingSecurity>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>1451.53</value>
				<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</derivativeSecurity>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Awards of phantom stock units are to be settled only in cash upon the reporting person's termination as a director.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">Reflects addtional  Phantom Stock Units credited through dividend reinvestment based on most recent plan statement.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Joanne K. Boyle As Agent for Robert C. Young</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-07-01</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
[{"type": "4", "sequence": "1", "filename": "you328.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3112}]
X0101
4
2003-06-30
0
0000105770
WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES INC
(WST)
0001205317
YOUNG ROBERT C
1
0
0
0
Phantom Stock Unit
0.00
2003-06-30
4
A
0
373.06
0
A
1988-08-08
1988-08-08
Common Stock
373.06
1451.53
D
Awards of phantom stock units are to be settled only in cash upon the reporting person's termination as a director.
Reflects addtional  Phantom Stock Units credited through dividend reinvestment based on most recent plan statement.
By: Joanne K. Boyle As Agent for Robert C. Young
2003-07-01