Exhibit (10)(x)


             CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT PURSUANT TO 17 C.F.R. $240.24b-2
             -------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

            Portions of this Exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a
            request for confidential treatment pursuant to 17 C.F.R.
               $240.24b-2. The omitted information has been filed
                  separately with the Securities and Exchange
                  Commission. Areas where information has been
                          omitted are marked with "***"

            -------------------------------------------------------
                                 BONUS AGREEMENT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIS IS A BONUS  AGREEMENT  (the  "Agreement"),  dated as of  December  21, 2000
between West Pharmaceutical,  Services, Inc., a Pennsylvania  corporation,  (the
"Company") and [Designated Executive] ("Executive").

The Board of  Directors  of the  Company  has  authorized  and  directed  senior
management to work with the Company's financial advisor in evaluating  strategic
alternatives to enhance shareholder value. Such alternatives include the sale of
the Company or one or more of its business units.

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and the Board wish to award
a bonus  opportunity  that would  serve as an  incentive  for certain key senior
management personnel to successfully implement the strategic review.

In consideration of the foregoing and Executive's  continued employment with the
Company, and intending to be legally bound, the Company agrees with Executive as
follows:

1.  Success Bonus.

(a)  If all of the following occurs:

    (1)   A "Change in Control"  (as such term is defined in the Second  Amended
          and Restated  Change-in-Control  Agreement  dated as of March 25, 2000
          between the Company and the Executive  (hereinafter referred to as the
          "Change-in-Control  Agreement")) of the Company occurs or is deemed to
          have occurred on or before December 31, 2001;

    (2)   As a result of or in  connection  with  such  Change  in  Control  the
          Company's  shareholders would receive  consideration for each share of
          the  Company's  Common  Stock of at least *** in cash or, in the event
          the consideration  consists of securities or a combination of cash and
          securities, a combined total value of at least *** ; and

    (3)   The  Executive  remains  employed  by the  Company on the date of such
          Change in Control,

Then the Company will pay to the Executive a bonus equal to [see Exhibit (10)(y)
 - Schedule of Contracts  with Certain  Executives] of the  Executive's  highest
annual base salary rate in effect during the year of the Change in Control.

(b)  The bonus shall be paid in cash net of all  federal,  state or local income
     or  payroll  taxes  that the  Company  is  required  by  applicable  law to
     withhold.


(c)  The bonus shall be paid not later than five days  following the date of the
     Change in Control,  or, if the Change in Control is deemed to have occurred
     as a result of the Executive's employment termination,  five days following
     such termination.

(d)  The Executive and the Company  acknowledge  and agree that any bonus amount
     that may be received under this Agreement is not intended to be included in
     the  calculation  of  severance  compensation  under  Section  3 (a) of the
     Change-in-Control  Agreement,  and  therefore,  will not constitute a bonus
     paid or payable upon the  termination  of employment  within the meaning of
     that agreement.

2.   Duration of Agreement.  This Agreement will commence on the date hereof and
     continue  until the later of  January  5,  2002 or  payment  in full of any
     amount due and payable  hereunder.  This Agreement may be terminated at any
     time

   (a)    By the mutual written consent of Executive and the Company; or

   (b)    By the  Company if it  notifies  Executive  in  writing  that it is no
          longer considering a transaction or business combination involving the
          Company that would constitute a Change in Control.

3.  Miscellaneous.

   (a)    This  Agreement  will be  binding  upon and  inure to the  benefit  of
          Executive,  Executive's  personal  representatives  and  heirs and the
          Company and any successor of the Company,  but neither this  Agreement
          nor any  rights  arising  hereunder  may be  assigned  or  pledged  by
          Executive.

   (b)    Should any  provision  of this  Agreement  be  adjudged  to any extent
          invalid  by any  competent  tribunal,  that  provision  will be deemed
          modified to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.

   (c)    This Agreement  will be governed and construed in accordance  with the
          laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

   (d)    This  Agreement  constitutes  the entire  agreement and  understanding
          between the Company and Executive  with respect to the subject  matter
          hereof and merges and supersedes all prior discussions, agreements and
          understandings  between the Company and Executive with respect to such
          matters.

   (e)    This  Agreement  may be  executed in one or more  counterparts,  which
          together shall constitute a single agreement.

          IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties have duly executed this Agreement as
          of the date first written above.

                                       WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES, INC.


                                      By:
     --------------------------          --------------------------------------
     [Designated Executive]                 William G. Little, Chairman of the
                                            Board and Chief Executive Officer