Europe’s Top Seagull Screecher is Coming to Weston-super-Mare

14th August 2025

COOPER Wallace is a double European champion at just 11 years-old.
He’s appeared on TV chat shows, made headlines around the world, fronted an advert for Fortnum & Mason, and even been shadowed by a Korean television crew.

Why? ..... Because he’s the best in Europe at mimicking the noise a seagull makes – and now the two-time champion is coming to Weston-super-Mare to show us how it’s done and to judge our very own Visit Weston Seagull Screeching Championship.

It all began when a gull swooped down, stole his sandwich, and nipped his finger on a seaside trip. By the end of that same day, Cooper had mastered the sound – so convincing that his family thought a real gull was following them.

Since then, he’s rubbed shoulders with celebrities, been interviewed by TV and radio stations across the UK and as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, America and India.

Mum Lauren told Visit Weston: “Never in a million years did I think he would be famous for his noise!”

Come and hear Cooper for yourself at Weston-super-Mare’s first Seagull Screeching Championship, have a go yourself – and maybe pick up some tips from the master.

📅 Sunday, August 31
📍 Italian Gardens, Weston-super-Mare
⏰ 12pm – 2pm

INTERVIEW: Meet Cooper Wallace – Europe’s Top Seagull Screecher – and His Mum, Who Has to Listen to It All

Visit Weston: Cooper, let’s start at the beginning. What made you first try to mimic a seagull?
Cooper: I was at the beach and a seagull swooped down, stole my sandwich – and bit my finger. I copied the noise it made… and it went from there! I’ve named that seagull Jerry.
Lauren: He copied it a lot. All day. By the evening, he’d mastered it. We thought we were being followed by a real gull – but it was just Cooper behind us.

Visit Weston: When did you realise you were actually good at it?
Cooper: My mum thought it was just me being noisy at first and kept telling me to shut up – but then I got good. I kept practising and… I won the European Championship. Twice!

Visit Weston: You’ve been on TV, in adverts, even followed by a Korean film crew. What’s it like being famous?
Cooper: Amazing! I’ve done trillions of interviews. A Korean film crew followed me everywhere for three days – even to swimming  – for a seagull documentary.
I also won €1,000 on a German TV show and bought Hornby train stuff.
The Fortnum & Mason advert was so funny – I had to screech in a posh shop and try not to laugh. They paid me to make the noises my mum and dad used to tell me to stop making!

Visit Weston: Lauren, did you ever imagine your son would become a European champion at… screeching?
Lauren: Never! When he first started, we were like “Cooper, pack it in. Be quiet.” It was constant – even at 5.30am. He'd wake up making that noise, It was everywhere we went. Now we encourage him!

Visit Weston: Be honest Lauren – what’s it like living with a champion screecher?
Lauren: Loud. We could never lose him – we can always hear him! He’s made something so random into something really special, and he makes people smile.

Visit Weston: What does it take to be a top-level screecher?
Cooper: You've got to listen to the gulls, study the noise they make. Drink lots beforehand. Honey and lemon is very good. 

Visit Weston: Lauren, how has this changed your family’s life?
Lauren: It’s been a whirlwind – completely turned our lives around in the best way. His name and his talent have gone around the world – Chicago, India, Canada. He’s done things most boys his age never get to do. From the first time he won in April, we didn’t have a weekend off until mid-September – interviews, filming, invitations. Mad, but brilliant. We never expected any of this. He's taken everything in his stride and done things that boys his age just don't get to do.

Visit Weston: Give us a flavour of some of those experiences.
Lauren: Trips all over the UK. His first time on an aeroplane – to Germany for a TV show. The kids had never even been to London before this. It’s been totally mad.

Visit Weston: What was winning the European title like?
Cooper: I thought the crowd were shouting at me to stop - but they weren't. They were cheering for me. It was brilliant but scary at the same time. I couldn't believe I had won. It was my first medal ever, apart from a go-kart race when I was four. Ever since I was five, I thought one day I’d be famous - maybe for making the biggest model engine - I didn’t expect it to be for this.

Visit Weston: Cooper is also the RSPB’s Gull Champion. What’s that about?
Lauren: It’s about putting out a positive message for gulls. Helping to spread the message not to feed them and keep the beaches and places litter free to encourage them to feed themselves naturally in the sea.  A lot of their bad reputation is caused by human behaviour.

Visit Weston: If you could only be one – European Gull Screeching Champion or train driver – what would you choose?
Cooper: That question is impossible. Can I be both? That would be perfect.

Want to take part in Weston's Seagull Screeching contest?

If you'd like to have a go at impersonating the noise of a seagull at Weston's first seagull screeching championships here's all you need to know.

When: Sunday, August 31
Where: At the monthly Sunday Market in the Italian Gardens, Weston-super-Mare
What time: 12pm – 2pm

How to enter: There will be two categories - Under 12s and Over 12s which includes adults and grandparents as well!

We would prefer people to sign up in advance by sending an email to vic@wsm-tc.gov.uk stating the contestant's name, age and also including a phone number.

There will be a limited number of on-the-day entries accepted as well - but for the best chance of being included advance sign up is recommended.