Iconic Films

The 1936 Olympic flame rumpus

Past Notes: if you think the present farce is unprecedented, think back 70 years

Was God in the White House?

Past Notes: we think of presidents as churchgoers, but 11 out of 43 were not members of a church

National Day: perfectly British

Past Notes: the sneerers at proposals for a day of swearing allegiance have short memories

The Proms: open up the bubbly

Past Notes: when Margaret Hodge criticised the Proms, she may not have known their history

Beware the mighty Liechtenstein

Past Notes: German anger towards the tiny principality goes back to the 19th century

A Rock-like moment for Wilson

Past Notes: When everything took a nosedive in 1974, scores of banks faced ruin

The king who wanted Sharia England

Past Notes: The Times unveils an amazing plot to turn this nation into a Muslim state

Who says MPs shouldn't be bugged?

Past Notes: our political history is full of not-so-honourable members worthy of surveillance

Nepotism on a majestic scale

Past Notes: If you thought Derek Conway was bad, recall what Harold Macmillan did

Gaffes and blunders all round

Past Notes: the comic incompetence of the Russian Navy in 1904 is worth revisiting

Flirting with danger: how French

Nicolas Sarkozy's colourful private life is nothing compared to another former lovestruck president

The 1872 version of Mrs Clinton

Past Notes: the colourful Victoria Woodhull was the first woman to stand at a US presidential election

Remember 1955, if trains gets you down

In 1955, the safety record for British Rail was diabolical. In January alone a crash in Sutton Coldfield killed 14 people

Letter from Charles Dickens to The Times

Bloody reflections of the dynasties

Past Notes: very few families in Europe can match the horrors that have engulfed the Bhuttos in Pakistan

When did Santa first have a grotto?

Past Notes: Britain caught on late when it came to exploiting the commercial possibilities of Christmas

Paddy Hitler, 26 Priory Gardens, N6

The Fuhrer is back in the news. But for many years some of his closest relations were living in Britain

Tragically back from the dead

Past Notes: the canoeman reminds us of those in the First World War who lost their memories, often poignantly