Looking to make friends in Essex uk

Looking to make friends in Essex uk. I am 49 and I would like to build myself a new circle of friends. I seem to have put so much into kids, work, my marriage that I've let old connections slip to the point that I've realised my poor wife is my closest and essentially my only friend. I really want to do something about this. I think I could be a good friend to someone. Anyone else relate to this? How did make new friends?