1. Good to hear you are in fairly good health now, Long may it continue !.
2.Great you have mortgage paid off.
3. Pensions are very Tax effective , and since you have mortgage paid , you can max the contributions.
4. If you can tie into a company pension, do so, but get clarity over the terms etc.
5. Do you have any good /local advisor? If not let us know general area you live in and some poster will point you in a good direction.
6. Your pension fund will ,should you die , be part of your estate and will go to your wife . ( make a will now)