If NASA awards astronaut wings for being 50 miles up, does that change the perspective at all.. any Brit before Helen Sharman?
John Llewellyn (born Cardiff) was the very first British astronaut - I think they were awarded the title 'astronaut' at an earlier stage back then. He died a couple of years ago, aged 80. John had issues with handling a jet and so left the programme before going aloft - although the reason for his departure from the programme wasn't divulged at the time (piloting the craft was never going to be his primary role anyway).
Astronaut Bio: John Anthony Llewellyn