 Having been created a baronet in 1963, Orr-Ewing retired from the House of Commons in 1970 and was created a life peer on 30 April 1971, as Baron Orr-Ewing, of Little Berkhamsted in the County of Hertfordshire.Orr-Ewing was an amateur radio enthusiast, holding the call sign "G5OG" until his death.The format of his call sign indicates that his licence was issued between 1921 and 1939.