I'm very sad to hear this news.
Years and years ago I remember being absolutely amazed to find Owen Clarke, an ardent member of Cwmbran Caving Club, very steadily making his way into Daren Cilau, around the corner at the end The Vice in the Entrance Series, simply through the sheer determination and enthusiasm shown, irrespective of age or size. It was no trouble or bother pausing to allow him time to pass.
Everyone who climbs a stainless-steel semi-rigid fixed ladder in a cave in Wales, where each rung is assembled and interlocked like a metal multi-puzzle, has Owen to thank for the design and construction he originated for the 65-foot (20m) ladder pitch in Daren Cilau. This obviated the previous dependence on rotting electron ladders which had actually broken whilst people were climbing them, albeit safely lifelined at the time. Other such ladders have since been built and installed elsewhere in the same and other caves.
However, Owen's innovative contributions don't stop here, because he also designed the air-lift which was successfully built with John Cooper and used underwater at Pwll y Cwm in the Clydach Gorge from March 1986, when divers were looking for the way on at the bottom of the pothole:
"we assembled a profusion of hoses, pipes and bits into an air-lift. People stood back in amazement asking the same thing ? Would it work? It certainly looked very basic and simple, and Owen?s idea was for it to be just that ? idiot-proof, or was it ?caver-proof??
The whole lot was dropped down the shaft and with a final push on the back Steve disappeared into the murk. He followed the pipe down, got hold of the suction hose, traced it to the end and waited. Then, remembering the air switch was diver-operated, he groped his way back to the base pipe. A final deep breath and the switch was thrown open. It was a perfect launch, with all six yards of the air-lift blazing skywards and a bewildered diver clinging to the tail section being battered to death all the way up!
Owen shook his head sadly and John looked towards the skies. Steve was given new orders and pushed back down the shaft. Again a loud rumbling came to the surface followed by a cloud of bubbles and an air-lift trailing an irate diver.
While Steve had a rest new ideas were thought up. It was decided to attach a bag of weights to the base to prevent launching, while a float on top would stop it sinking too far. Also, by tying the top to the A-frame it was hoped to stop the rotation of the head and keep the debris ejecting downstream instead of everywhere. Other minor problems were encountered and solved. It worked ? that was the main thing." (Steve Ainley, 1986)
I remember calling in on Owen at Abersychan in May 2006, after the launch of Peter Wakelin's new guidebook for Blaenavon Ironworks and I recall, being on foot and public transport at the time, this meant being picked up by Owen and then taken back to where I was staying afterwards. He was a great host and as enthusiastic and full of ideas as ever, following his love for cave science.
Owen's reported death is a very sad loss for caving in the UK.