AL
42 is not too old (we had a guy who joined age 53 , never got his command but that was because his brain had gone the same way as his body - seriously down hill).
This is the big issue , if you stay sharp and are prepared to work hard to overcome obstacles you will probably have a job this time next year.
If you still live around Manchester you are in the right place (if you want to cheer yourself up look at the business plan justification for Manchesters second runway). They didn't build it for a laugh and in ten years it will have eclipsed Gatwick.Liverpool is also looking promising (not often you can say anything good about Liverpool).
Hang in there , you'll be fine.