There were predictions of a stormy affair, but Ulster Unionists, unlike some of their political rivals, are a reserved lot. No one would have guessed there were any internal divisions as delegates arrived at the White Horse Hotel in Derry.
The stall selling merchandise in the foyer said it all. None of the exotic paraphernalia beloved by the DUP was here. It was all very sedate and subdued, with UUP wall plaques and books analysing the council elections and EU policy.
One pamphlet was The UUP - Women in the 90s. "A rather thin publication," bemoaned John Taylor's assistant, Steven King, as he scanned its four short pages.
But inside the conference hall UUP women were making their voices heard in a lively, although often non-PC, way. In a debate on women in the party, Irene Cree sang the praises of Cleopatra, Boadicea, the Virgin Mary, Florence Nightingale and Marilyn Monroe.
They were all women who had made their mark on history, and she lamented that women had not done as well in the UUP. But Northern Ireland had its own heroine, "modest, reserved and dignified . . . Our First Lady, Mrs Daphne Trimble," and delegates rose to their feet in applause.
Mr Trimble was told to appreciate Mrs Trimble, otherwise "you'll have no clean shirts this week".
Bill Doherty favoured promoting women because of his late mother, Martha Jane, "a proud, loyal Christian mother and wife who followed the Ulster way".
Elaine McClure from Newry wanted action, not words.
Pointing to the leaders' seats on the platform, she said to loud cheers: "Women have as much chance of occupying these as I have of being Bill Clinton's next conquest."
She didn't want to be a traditional unionist woman. "I'm 34 years old. I've a good brain. I'm articulate. I've no desire to go into the kitchen and do things with soda bread and buttermilk. I've no desire to breed a generation of right-wingers."
The pro-agreement camp judged the day a big success. Richard Dallas, Derry's former UUP mayor, said: "Things have gone very well for David. He has the support of the vast majority of delegates." Steven King was pleased there had been "sparse applause" for speakers from the dissident group, Union First.
One member, Peter Weir, said many anti-agreement activists had not attended the conference because it was stage-managed.
While all delegates were united on the need for prior decommissioning, they were divided on the extent of the handover.
The dissidents said it must be substantial. A Derry delegate said a token gesture would do.
"The Provos must hand over some offensive weapons, particularly the Semtex. They can bury the rest in the Wicklow Mountains, although I hope they keep some handy to deal with their dissidents."
Despite two standing ovations for Mr Trimble, Union First members were not down-hearted. "If it hadn't been for us, Sinn Fein would be on its way into government. We have kept the leadership in line. That's what matters, not whether Trimble gets a standing ovation and Willie Ross doesn't."
At lunchtime Mr Trimble was surrounded by delegates requesting his autograph. Was the cult of personality developing in the UUP? Would he, like Gerry Adams, soon be holding birthday parties in Manhattan attended by rock stars?
"I don't think Carly Simon will ever be singing You're So Vain to me," said the UUP leader with a smile.