The Risk Family Memorial

Image: © Lairich Rig Taken: 28 Oct 2011

This structure is located beside the Image, at what was formerly the north-western corner of the cemetery (before the latter was extended). The memorial is 13 feet, 4 inches long, and stands 12 feet tall. The architect was John MacLeod, who was responsible for many of the memorials in this cemetery. It was carved by Mr Grassby, a Glasgow sculptor (presumably Charles Benham Grassby – he was also responsible for Image, which is located nearby, and for others; see, for example, Image). Two Provosts of Dumbarton, father and son, are commemorated here. The father, William Risk, was born at Kilmarnock. In Dundee, he traded in seeds; in 1810, he began carrying on the same trade in Dumbarton, but he soon branched out into the sale of wines and spirits. He was joined by his son in that business; the firm, William Risk and Son, continued trading until 1853. William Risk was elected Provost of Dumbarton in 1845. He died on the 7th of October, 1864, in his 80th year. His son, James Blair Risk was born and raised in Dumbarton. He became partner in a firm of drapers (France & Risk), and in his father's business, and he was also connected with the Dumbarton Brewery. Like his father, he was elected Provost of Dumbarton, and held that position from 1854 to 1860. He also served as a Justice of the Peace for the county. He did much travelling in his later years, and died in London, on the 29th of April, 1878. However, he is buried here in Dumbarton Cemetery. The central panel of the memorial bears the inscription "the burying ground of James Blair Risk of Meadowbank", and the top of the structure bears a JBR monogram, shown in Image Risk Street in Dumbarton is very probably named after William or James Blair Risk (or both): Image [For further biographical details, see Donald MacLeod's "The God's Acres of Dumbarton" (1888).]

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