CAA Statistics are
here. All the info is in a PDF so no easy to read charts, should have guessed they would make it as difficult as possible! The publication
FTN (Flight Training News) usually has a nice historical line graph within it, unfortunately they don't publish an online version. Maybe someone can scan a copy.
As for spending over a £100k to do it all again I have to agree I might (but still don't regret taking the gamble) opt to just to get a PPL and then spend the rest of the money doing some different flying. Could be an interesting thread to find out what sort of recreational flying professional pilots would do with that money. I like the idea of a charity round the world flight!
PT