The Ulster Unionist conference was a sleek, professional affair,writes Suzanne Breen.
"Who is that man?" asked an elderly delegate as Iain Duncan Smith addressed the Ulster Unionist annual conference. It was the first time a British Conservative leader had attended the event in decades and he was billed as the star turn.
Mr Duncan Smith said he was delighted to be at the "Ulster Union Party" conference, then quickly corrected it to unionist. "He doesn't know who they are and they don't know who he is. It's very equal," quipped a journalist.
Around 500 delegates gathered at the state-of-the-art Millennium Centre in Derry. A rumoured Sinn Féin picket never materialised. "It would have given us a cross-community feel," lamented a delegate.
Instead, Sinn Féin were said to be restricting their protest at exclusion from government to a picket in the non-controversial territory of Free Derry Corner. "They don't want to disrupt our conference," confided another delegate, impressed with the helpful approach.
Back inside, Mr Duncan Smith stressed his affection for Derry which he had first visited 26 years ago as a young officer in the Scots Guards. "We were not some kind of occupying force. We were here to protect the whole community from the evil of terrorism," he declared. Recent gossip suggests if the North's political process can't be resurrected, David Trimble will join the Tories. Mr Duncan Smith heaped praise on the UUP leader who was held in high regard "not just in my party but throughout the UK and beyond".
"David's a cert for the front bench," predicted a reporter.
The UUP is keen to present itself as party of equal opportunity and young blood. Its chairman James Cooper said he was delighted that three of its 40 Assembly candidates were women. Next came a video, with background rock music, of UUP leading lights in action at Stormont.
With the UUP no longer in government with Sinn Féin, this was its most united conference in years. Although divisions still exist, there was no public squabbling.
The leadership was keen to present an ultra-professional image. Mr Trimble read his speech from a presidential-style autocue. His deputy, John Taylor, didn't hear a word. He stepped into his chauffeur-driven car as Mr Trimble took to the podium.