[West Pharmaceutical Services Letterhead]
                                                                      Exhibit 5


                                                                    May 4, 2004



         Securities and Exchange Commission
         450 Fifth Street, N.W.
         Washington, D.C. 20549

                  Re:     2004 Stock-Based Compensation Plan (the "Plan")
                          Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
                          Statement")

         Gentlemen:

                  This opinion is being delivered in connection with the
         preparation of the Registration Statement being filed with the
         Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as
         amended, relating to the offering of up to 1,500,000 shares (the
         "Shares") of the common stock, par value $0.25 per share, of West
         Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. that may be issued under the Plan.

                  I have examined the Plan and such corporate records and other
         documents and matters as I have considered appropriate to enable me to
         give this opinion. Based on the foregoing, it is my opinion that the
         Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and sold in
         accordance with the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and
         non-assessable. I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an
         exhibit to the Registration Statement.

                                                      Very truly yours,

                                                      /s/ J. R. Gailey

                                                      John R. Gailey III
                                                      General Counsel





JRG/kmt