local people. At its height, the plant was producing 4 million pairs of jeans in a year. The plant shut its doors in December 1999. Bands The Whitburn Band is a brass band formed in 1870. The band has been successful on the contest stage and competes at the British Open, National Final and European Championships, and has been Scottish Champion on 19 occasions. In 2017, the Whitburn Band was ranked 6th in the world in the 4barsrest rankings. Whitburn Flute Band was formed in the town in 1962, although it is thought the band may have existed in some form before this. The band host their annual parade through the town on the first Saturday in April. The parade attracts bands from all over the UK who come to compete. Transport The M8 motorway passes to the north of the town. A shared cycle and pedestrian path along the B8084 road was completed in 2021 following an investment of £1.2 million, providing an off-road cycle route and enabling pedestrian access to Armadale. Notable people Elizabeth Bishop (Burns) (1785–1817) - Robert Burns's first illegitimate child, married John Bishop, factor to the Laird of Polkemmet, and was buried in the Whitburn churchyard. John Paterson (1926–2000) - former professional footballer for Hibernian F.C. Jimmy Ferguson (*1935) - former professional footballer for Dundee, Falkirk, Oldham Athletic, Crewe Alexandra, Darlington and Stenhousemuir Jim Irvine (*1940) - former professional footballer for Dundee United, Middlesbrough, Hearts and Barrow John Lambie (1941–2018) - played for Falkirk and manager of Hamilton and Partick Thistle. Wilson Wood (1943–2017) - footballer, played for Glasgow Rangers Duncan Lambie (1952–2015) - footballer for Dundee, St Johnstone, SpVgg. Fürth and Hibernian Andy Mooney (*1955) - CEO of Fender Danny Lennon (*1969) - former professional footballer and former manager of St Mirren F.C. Iain Cook (*1974) - musician, composer, and record producer who is currently a member of Glasgow-based electronic trio Chvrches. David Baillie (*1977) - writer, born in West Lothian, known for comicbook work such as 2000 AD and Red Thorn. Scott Boyd (*1986) professional footballer for Kilmarnock, Ross County, Partick Thistle and Livingston Leon Jackson (*1988) - Scottish singer Jamie Brandon (*1998) - professional footballer for Heart of Midlothian The Snuts - Jack Cochrane, Joe McGillivray (East Whitburn), Callum Wilson, Jordan Mackay References External links www.heartlands-scotland.com, Information and photos from the Heartlands urban regeneration scheme Scottish Owl Centre Towns in West Lothian