SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

________________

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported) – October 18, 2005

________________________

WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

_____________________

Pennsylvania	1-8036	23-1210010
(State or other jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
101 Gordon Drive, PO Box 645, Lionville, PA		19341-0645
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

610-594-2900

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or address, if changed since last report)

____________________

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02

Departure of Directors or Principle Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.

(d)

On October 18, 2005, the Board of Directors of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (the “Company”) increased the size of the Board to 11 directors from 10 and elected Paula A. Johnson, M.D., MPH to the Company’s Board of Directors as a Class I director. Dr. Johnson will stand for re-election by the Company’s shareholders at the 2006 Annual Meeting. Dr. Johnson has not yet been named to any of the committees of the Board of Directors.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES, INC.

/s/ John R. Gailey III

John R. Gailey III

Vice President, General Counsel

October 24, 2005