OP - I can see why you are a little upset/embarrassed about it, but attitudes to on-line dating and dating agencies has changed dramatically in the last 10-15 years. If you started dating before that, it might have easily been only really sad and pathetic people who did "lonely hearts" columns or used dating agencies, and that was the image of 'formal dating' that you got then, and subsequently, not many 'normal' people used them.
However - things have changed, the British seem to have finally embraced the US attitude towards formal dating (rather than getting drunk and then getting off with someone, or just hanging out with friends of friends and then 'going out'). And hte reason it's taken off and is more popular because it's a very grown up and sensible way to go about it.
DH and I met the old fashioned way (I was hammered on Archers and lemonade, wearing far too little for a night out in a northern town, we were in the classy surroundings of 'pop tarts' and he was doing some aggressive dance moves to 80s classics in a rugby shirt and beer soaked jeans, and I thought "that's the man for me"), but I think if we were to split up, I'd use on-line dating, the only new men I meet are via work, it's not really appropriate to date a colleague in my current work place, and I certainly couldn't date a client without it causing upset. I've met all the single male friends of my friends, and they are all single for good reasons. I don't lead the sort of lifestyle to go out on the pull.
Quite frankly, I'd think more highly of someone in their 30s dating on line (classy) than being out drunk on the pull (never classy, but you can get away with it if you are young).